Kuannersuit company plans major drilling program - but locals demonstrate

The Australian company Energy Transition Minerals (ETM), which through its subsidiary Greenland Minerals, has an exploration permit for Kuannersuit, held a citizens' meeting on March 18 in Narsaq.

Here, the company spoke about, among other things, their upcoming exploration and drilling program in the southern and western parts of the Ilimaussaq complex, which is expected to take place in the period from June to September this year in collaboration with the Canadian drilling company Quesnel Bros. Diamond Drilling.

10-15 local jobs

In addition to drilling, airborne geological mapping of the area from a helicopter is also planned.

According to the company, 10-15 local jobs will be created in Narsaq in connection with the exploration program, which may be extended beyond the field season.

– ETM places a strong priority on engaging with the local community in Greenland as we embark on this important exploration program. Having operated in Greenland for more than a decade, we value input from local residents and remain committed to an open, constructive dialogue with the community as the project progresses. As our presence increases ahead of the field season, we look forward to strengthening relationships, engaging with and communicating our activities at Kuannersuit. We are also interested in contributing to local economic development, including creating employment opportunities for the citizens of Narsaq as project activities increase, said the company’s CEO Daniel Mamadou, according to a recent stock exchange release.

Questions on uranium and environmental protection

The company estimates that the exploration program will cost them in the region of 45 million kroner, but that it will allow them to assess future mine planning, logistics and development perspectives. In addition, the program aims to meet current exploration obligations required by the authorities.

According to the stock exchange release, local citizens asked questions about the company’s environmental management and protection, including the presence of uranium, to which ETM responded that the radiation level is at the level of background radiation in the area, and that the project is designed to minimize potential impacts in accordance with international standards. Finally, they said that the project has been assessed as technically and economically feasible, and that they are ready to proceed with the project as soon as they have an exploitation permit from the Government of Greenland.

Not many listeners

Former chairwoman of Urani Naamik in Narsaq Mariane Paviasen Jensen, who is now a member of Inatsisartut for Inuit Ataqatigiit, participated in the first half hour of the meeting herself.

– A demonstration against the company was planned prior to the meeting. There were about 10-15 of us who showed up for this demonstration. When we entered the citizens' meeting, there were six employees from ETM and a few listeners.

According to Mariane Paviasen Jensen, the majority of citizens in Narsaq are still against the mining project.

– I left after half an hour and instead watched the rest of the meeting via live streaming. I couldn't stand listening to them. I think they are behaving so disrespectfully towards the citizens of this town. Now we have to see if they even get their application for field activities approved by the Department of Mineral Resources. I hope they get rejected, says Mariane Paviasen Jensen.

Correction of information

After the citizens' meeting, the then Minister of Minerals, Naaja H. Nathanielsen, issued a correction to the company, as it was suggested at the meeting that the company had the prospect of receiving an early approval of their permit for Kuannersuit from Naalakkersuisut.

"At the citizens' meeting, Greenland Minerals A/S' representative, Svend Hardenberg, General Manager, stated that on March 11 he had met with Naalakkersuisouq for Industry, Minerals, Energy, the Justice Sector and Equality, Naaja H. Nathanielsen, and where Naalakkersuisouq was supposed to have said. "Yes, you get it!" Understood as Naalakkersuisut indicating that Naalakkersuisut will approve Greenland Minerals A/S's application for an extension of their permit at Kuannersuit. The representation from Svend Hardenberg of what was said at the meeting is not correct. "

No decision has been made in prospect

According to Naaja H. Nathanielsen, at the respective meeting "no expectation of the outcome of the decisions was mentioned and no expectation of a time frame for the completion of the company's applications was announced. Naalakkersuisut has not processed the application for an extension of Greenland Minerals A/S and Naalakkersuisut for Business, Minerals, Energy, Justice and Equality has not in any way indicated or made a specific decision in prospect".

 The Ministry of Raw Materials confirms to Sermitsiaq that they have received the company's application for field activities for the upcoming season, and that the application is currently in a three-week consultation.