The following taken from today's SERMITSIAQ.AG.
Nothing new here except perhaps - Denmark are saying the case must now take it's course in arbitration even though they are on side with GoG saying that the case must be referred to the courts in Greenland. Denmark says they want to stay out of the case. Also the Danish government are concerned at the cost f the case.Denmark rejects mining claims in Greenland of almost DKK 80 billionAustralian mining company demands nearly DKK 80 billion in compensation for rejected mining project in Greenland.
Juncher JørgensenRitzauTuesday, 06 February 2024 - 16:39In South Greenland, enormous amounts of rare earth species lie under the mountain plateau Kvanefjeld, in Greenland's Kuannersuit.An Australian mining company has been refused to extract the sought-after resources and has therefore made a compensation claim of almost DKK 80 billion.But it is rejected by Greenland and Denmark, who have obtained assistance from the barrister, who is the state's lawyer.
This shows a document insight into the two assessments that Ritzau has received.
The case does not belong in an arbitration at all, is the main argument.Denmark is in close contact with Greenland, according to climate minister Lars Aagaard (M).- Denmark has submitted its response, and now the case must take its course. While the case is ongoing, I have nothing further to add, says the Minister for Climate, Energy and Supply in a written reply.
After several years of struggle, the Australian mining company Energy Transition Minerals (ETM) received a final no to the project due to environmental concerns after the parliamentary elections in Greenland in November 2021.The company was previously called Greenland Minerals and since 2007 has had permission to investigate the possibilities of establishing a mine at Kvanefjeld.The company itself writes on its website that the project had the potential to become the most significant producer of rare earth species in the Western world.The rare earth species are essential in the batteries that must be used in modern technologies and in the green transition.These are indispensable substances for the production of solar cells, wind turbines, batteries for electric cars and many other things. It is a field in which China sits heavily, which increases dependence.But during the extraction, radioactive uranium will be extracted at the same time. Therefore, the matter filled the Greenlandic election, and it ended with a government saying no.
As a result, Energy Transition Minerals is demanding a historically large compensation of nearly DKK 80 billion from Greenland and Denmark in an arbitration.But Naalakkersuisut, the Greenlandic government, announced just before Christmas that the case must be referred to the courts in Greenland. The Danish government sees it as a Greenlandic matter and wants to stay out of it.
The Australian mining company has a good case, believes defense attorney Poul Hauch Fenger, who specializes in international law.- The Australian mining company has received an exploration permit, met the requirements, after which, also according to practice, one would automatically receive an exploitation permit.- It doesn't make much sense to extract something that you don't get access to. So, based on ordinary logical deductions, I still believe that the Australian mining company has a good case, he says, subject to the legal details of the case.Denmark helped grant the exploration license to the company in 2007, because at that time the resource area was not formally taken over by Greenland.But the barrister argues that Denmark has really only functioned as a "rubber stamp" since 1998, when the parties agreed that the area belongs to Greenland.According to the barrister, the purpose of the case is to put "undue" pressure on the self-government in Greenland in the hope of getting a permit for the project.The Attorney General believes that Denmark is spending disproportionately large resources on the case, which the mining company is using to "a completely extraordinary and unnecessary extent."Mineselskabet declines to comment on an ongoing case.It is not known when the case will be decided by the arbitration court, which consists of judges chosen by the parties themselves.
Welcome to the debate
https://sermitsiaq.ag/danmark-afviser-minekrav-i-groenland-knap-80-milliarder-kroner
