Naalakkersuisut Denies Greenland Minerals A/S License Extension for Kuannersuit Exploration
In a significant blow to Greenland Minerals A/S, the Greenlandic government, known as Naalakkersuisut, has formally rejected the company’s request for an extension of its exploration license at Kuannersuit. This decision marks another setback for a project that has garnered considerable controversy within the realm of the nation’s resource management.
In a press release issued yesterday, Naalakkersuisut outlined its reasoning, stating that further exploration in the area was unlikely to yield deposits that could be developed in compliance with the strict Uranium Act. This regulatory framework has been a point of contention for the mining company, which is owned by Australian Energy Transition Minerals (ETM).
Earlier this year, the director of Greenland Minerals expressed concerns that the prospecting permit might face revocation. He warned that declining the extension could infringe on the company’s rights. Currently, Greenland Minerals is embroiled in a legal dispute with the Self-Government over the reinstatement of a uranium ban, a move that effectively halts their controversial mining ambitions. In light of these developments, the company has filed a claim for compensation, asserting that it has been wrongfully denied a permit to mine.
This ongoing legal saga is set to be heard at Greenland’s High Court. An arbitration court determined in October 2025 that it lacked jurisdiction to handle the dispute between the mining company and Naalakkersuisut, a ruling that also mandated Greenland Minerals A/S to cover 90 percent of the government’s legal expenses—amounting to DKK 14,354,937.07.
Since its inception in 2007, Greenland Minerals has sought the necessary approvals to exploit rare earths in the Kuannersuit area, a goal that has thus far remained out of reach amid escalating regulatory and legal hurdles.