A recent post on LinkedIn featuring a newly constructed drilling rig alongside the phrase “Bound for Greenland” has sparked considerable uncertainty regarding the readiness of British company 80 Mile and American firm Greenland Energy Company to commence their anticipated test drilling in Nunap Qeqqa (Jameson Land).
Despite the stirring image, both companies are currently lacking the necessary permits to land their equipment and initiate drilling operations—an important detail emphasized by the head of the department overseeing raw materials in a recent discussion with Sermitsiaq.
### Awaiting Necessary Permits
In response to the growing speculation, 80 Mile has made it clear that the drilling rig will not reach Ittoqqortoormiit until all permits are duly secured. An email sent to Sermitsiaq delineates the situation: while the rig has indeed been constructed and tested, it has not yet been shipped and won’t be until the requisite approvals are finalized.
“The image shared by Stampede Drilling depicts the rig, freshly built and tested in the United States,” the email states. “It hasn’t been dispatched yet and will remain here for the time being. When the time comes to ship it, the rig will be packed in containers and transported toward Greenland, but rest assured, it won’t arrive in Ittoqqortoormiit until we have the necessary permits.”
### Logistical Challenges Ahead
The logistics of such an operation are complex and demand considerable preparation. The company further explained that they are undertaking these preparations with full cognizance of their current lack of permission to drill. “We understand that 80 Mile does not have the right to drill at this moment,” the email continues. “However, we must be proactive in our preparations while we await the granting of permits. The scale of an operation like this typically requires around a year of planning, and we can’t initiate logistics until the day we receive permission. This preparatory work is running concurrently with the Self-Government’s review of our application, but it doesn’t influence their decision-making process, and no drilling will commence until all approvals are obtained.”
The companies previously indicated their intention to dispatch the drilling rig in September, with hopes of initiating test drilling in early October. However, as it stands, their ambitions remain contingent upon the finalization of regulatory permits.