Deep division over uranium ban
Naalakkersuisut's bill banning uranium mining splits Inatsisartut. Both Siumut and the Democrats express that the bill is too restrictive and that the ban risks damaging Greenland's economy, reputation and development.
Leiff Josefsen
EDITORIALSunday, 31 October 2021 - 13:19
IA’s bill banning feasibility study, exploration and exploitation of uranium is due for second reading next week in Inatsisartut. After the first reading on 5 October, the bill was referred for further consideration in the Business and Mineral Resources Committee, because there is far from agreement among the parties on a number of important issues, such as what a de minimis limit for uranium should be.
It writes the newspaper Sermitsiaq.
The challenge is that our rocks and subsoil contain naturally occurring uranium in amounts of between 4 and 60 ppm (parts per million), which corresponds to 4-60 grams of uranium per 1 ton of ore. It is therefore not possible to introduce a zero tolerance for uranium if one wants to continue to allow exploration and excavation in the subsoil.
In their bill, the Naalakkersuisut has inserted a limit value of 100 ppm, which means that raw material projects with an average uranium content of the resource that is to be utilized are above 100 ppm, so both feasibility study, exploration and utilization are prohibited.
If the bill is passed, it will thus end definitively with Orano's uranium exploration in Greenland, but also with Greenland Minerals' rare earth project in Kuannersuit, which has an average uranium content of the resource of 200-400 ppm and possibly a number of other projects such as Hudson's rare earth project. at Sarfartoq.
As an argument for a limit value of 100 ppm, the Naalakkersuisut refers to the natural background values for uranium, and to the fact that a limit value of 100 ppm will be sufficiently low to ensure the purpose of the law.
https://sermitsiaq.ag/dyb-splittelse-uranforbud
Múte wants to strengthen the green bond with the EU
The chairman of the Naalakkersuisut, Múte B. Egede, is ready to ensure the EU a greater degree of security of supply for green transition, if this can be done in respect of the values that Greenland stands for.
Kassaaluk Kristiansen
JØRGEN SCHULTZ-NIELSENS Sunday, 31 October 2021 - 11:45
On Thursday, Múte B. Egede had a very positive meeting with the EU's Vice President for Interinstitutional Cooperation and Foresight, the Slovak Maros Sefcovic and the Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod.
The meeting was held in Copenhagen, where Múte B. Egedes is the middleman on his trip to Scotland, where he will participate in the big climate summit in Glasgow, which starts on Sunday.
It has become highly relevant for EU countries to secure the necessary minerals to form the basis for a green transition without being dependent on China, which has large world market shares when it comes to minerals.
- We had a constructive meeting where I was told the importance of a collaboration, which is based on the values we as a country value highly, Múte B. Egede informs Sermitsiaq.AG.
- We have a common interest in creating growth, based on climate-friendly technologies. Greenland has a large number of minerals that are of interest to the EU - for example for the production of batteries. But I was also pointed out the Greenlandic desire that we as a country will play a role in being able to supply green energy, explains Múte B. Egede.
Sefcovic is to visit Greenland
The chairman of the Naalakkersuisut refers to the new technology, Power-to-X, where work is being done to convert energy into hydrogen via a fission. A technology that is much researched and where experts consider the potential to be incredibly large as the future energy source for especially larger production facilities, and which can help reduce the CO2 load.
- We have hydropower, and it may well become an extremely interesting export product, because if anyone is based on sustainable and green values, states Múte B. Egede.
- The meeting was very positive and took place in respect for each other, and we agreed that Maros Sefcovic will visit Greenland at a later date, where we can continue the discussions about a possible collaboration, Múte B. Egede informs.
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