Greenland has issued a 30-year mining permit to a Danish-French consortium for the extraction of anorthosite, a white rock with potential applications in low-carbon aluminium production.
The move follows sustained international interest in the Arctic territory, including a renewed spotlight from U.S. President Donald Trump, who earlier this year reiterated a proposal to purchase the island.
The permit was awarded to Greenland Anorthosite Mining (GAM), which is developing a site near the Qeqertarsuatsiaat fjord in western Greenland. The company is supported by the French investment firm Jean Boulle Group alongside state investment bodies from Denmark and Greenland.
Anorthosite is composed of aluminium, micro silica and calcium and is similar to the material brought back by NASA’s Apollo missions. GAM intends initially to export crushed anorthosite for use in the fibreglass industry, where it could replace kaolin as a less environmentally damaging input. Longer term, the company aims to use the material as a substitute for bauxite in aluminium production—an energy-intensive industry seeking cleaner alternatives.
“My hope is that the mine will be operational in five years,” said Greenland’s Minister for Mineral Resources, Naaja Nathanielsen. She confirmed the government’s view that the project aligns with national objectives to attract investment in a controlled and sustainable manner.
Despite the geopolitical attention, Nathanielsen indicated that the renewed interest from Washington has not led to tangible economic engagement. “Right now, all the fuss has not resulted in increased appetite for investment directly in Greenland,” she told Reuters, referring to Trump’s ongoing proposal to purchase the territory.
While private U.S. business delegations have visited Greenland since the beginning of the year, no formal discussions have been initiated with the Trump administration. In contrast, relations with European partners are progressing. “There is no doubt that the dialogue with both the EU and Denmark is going smoother,” said Nathanielsen. “This is not only the result of the noise made by the U.S. administration, but also the result of several years of intensified cooperation.”
Nathanielsen resumed her ministerial post in April following the formation of a more business-oriented government in Nuuk. The new administration has signalled a willingness to expand resource development, provided that projects meet environmental and regulatory standards.
Greenland, which is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark, holds extensive reserves of rare earth minerals, hydrocarbons, and other industrial materials. However, the development of its mining sector has been slow, constrained by investor caution, administrative complexity and environmental considerations. Only two small mines are currently operational.
The GAM project represents the first major new mining initiative approved under the new government. It is being viewed as a test case for whether Greenland can develop larger-scale industrial projects without compromising environmental safeguards or local interests.
The involvement of public investment funds from both Greenland and Denmark reflects a hybrid approach: attracting foreign expertise while ensuring that local stakeholders retain economic benefit and oversight.
GAM has not provided full production forecasts, but the project’s alignment with European green industry goals—particularly in the context of fibreglass and potentially aluminium manufacturing—may position Greenland as a niche supplier of low-impact raw materials.
Aluminium is widely used in the aerospace, automotive and defence sectors. Substituting bauxite with anorthosite in the smelting process could reduce emissions if the mineral proves scalable and compatible with existing refining infrastructure.
The success of the GAM venture could be significant for Greenland’s economic diversification strategy. The island is heavily reliant on fishing and Danish subsidies. Proponents of mining argue that sustainable resource development is critical to achieving greater financial independence, though opponents warn of the ecological risks posed by industrial-scale operations in the Arctic environment.
