(CLO) Greenland, a large, sparsely populated island between the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans, has been hit hard by the climate crisis. Melting ice has given way to wetlands, scrublands and barren rocks, opening up opportunities for mineral exploitation.
The melting of Greenland's ice sheet is not only exposing natural resources, it is also making many of the world's largest mineral reserves more accessible.
Greenland, a vast but sparsely populated island located between the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans, has undergone significant changes due to the climate crisis over the past few decades.
Human-caused global warming has made Greenland increasingly "greener", according to a major analysis of satellite images published by researchers at the University of Leeds.
Melting icebergs spill into the Ilulissat ice fjord, Greenland. (Photo: GI/Getty)
This environmental change replaces ice and glaciers with wetlands, scrub, and barren rocks. Scientists have repeatedly warned of the risk of melting ice, leading to rising sea levels and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
For mining companies, the melting ice opens up opportunities to develop resources. “The waters around Greenland are opening up earlier and freezing up later each year, making remote areas easier to access than they were a few decades ago,” said Roderick McIllree, chief executive of mining company 80 Mile.
Currently, ice only forms for about 3-4 months in the northern latitudes, while much of the island sees melting, exposing potential mineral deposits that have never been seen before.
Geopolitical storm
Tony Sage, CEO of Critical Metals Corporation, said the new conditions would make it easier for the company to ship large ships from the North Atlantic to the Tanbreez mine in southern Greenland, taking advantage of deep bays without a permanent port. He said Greenland could see a “mineral rush” like that seen in icy Siberia.
However, Sage stressed that mining in Greenland is challenging due to its remote terrain, sparse population and lack of infrastructure such as roads and railways, forcing the company to rely on helicopters for transportation.
In this context, Greenland has become a strategic option for the West to reduce its dependence on China for rare earth elements. Recently, President Donald Trump has expressed his intention to control Greenland for national security reasons and has not ruled out the use of force.
However, Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede affirmed that the island is “not for sale” but is ready to cooperate with the US, especially in the mining sector, and called on the international community to respect Greenland's desire for independence.
Lots of precious minerals
Jakob Kløve Keiding, senior advisor at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), said the 2023 survey assessed 38 raw materials on the island, many of which have high potential, including rare earths, graphite, niobium, platinum, molybdenum, tantalum, titanium, along with significant reserves of lithium, hafnium, uranium and gold.
These minerals are considered essential for the energy transition, used in electric vehicle batteries, energy storage technology and national security.
Keiding stressed that Greenland is a new exploration area with many potential deposits that do not yet have sufficient data to exploit, although several large deposits with known resources have been confirmed.
While melting ice reduces logistical hurdles, Keiding notes that developing mining in Greenland is still a long way off, requiring more data and infrastructure to realize its potential.
Ha Trang (according to CNBC)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/bang-tan-o-greenland-mo-ra-con-sot-khoang-san-post330985.html
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