Greenland has issued a 30-year mining license to Greenland Anorthosite Mining (GAM), a Danish-French mining group, to extract anorthosite—an unusual white rock that could play a key role in climate-friendly aluminium production. The permit covers a project site in western Greenland and marks a significant step toward the island’s ambitions to become a major player in the global green minerals market.
GAM, backed by the French investment firm Jean Boulle Group and state investment funds from both Denmark and Greenland, aims to begin mining operations within five years. The company plans to export crushed anorthosite to the fiberglass industry, where it could serve as a more sustainable replacement for kaolin. Longer-term, it may replace bauxite in aluminium production, reducing the carbon footprint of a metal critical to the aerospace, automotive, and defense industries.
Anorthosite is geologically similar to material brought back from the Moon by NASA’s Apollo missions, and its unique composition—aluminium, micro silica, and calcium—offers promising industrial applications.
Despite the global spotlight on Greenland’s natural resources, Mineral Resources Minister Naaja Nathanielsen stated that heightened U.S. interest in the Arctic island—especially following former President Donald Trump’s 2019 proposal to purchase it—has not yet resulted in direct American investment.
“Right now, all the fuss has not resulted in increased appetite for investment directly in Greenland,” Nathanielsen told Reuters. While U.S. business delegations have visited the island, formal talks with the U.S. government remain on hold.
In contrast, Nathanielsen noted smoother progress with European Union and Danish partners, citing years of intensified cooperation.
Although Greenland is rich in minerals, oil, and gas, its mining sector remains underdeveloped due to investor caution, regulatory hurdles, and environmental concerns. At present, only two small mines are operational on the island.
