The justification for Naalakkersuisut’s refusal to extend the permit for the exploration of minerals in Kuannersuit is insufficient according to the workers’ union SIK. The chairman calls for a more detailed explanation.
Naalakkersuisut decided on June 25, that Energy Transition Minerals’ license to explore for minerals in Kuannersuit in Narsap Ilua, which has expired at the end of 2025, should not be extended.
Apart from Naalakkersuisut’s press release about the refusal, Naalakkersuisut has not presented a more in-depth explanation.
SIK assesses this as unsatisfactory. The chairman of the union believes that Naalakkersuisut should explain himself in more detail. He reads Naalakkersuisut’s message so unclearly that he is even unsure of what to say.
– I can’t say much about whether the refusal is wise or unwise. Because I still don’t clearly understand what Naalakkersuisut’s reasoning is for not extending it.
Do you think that Naalakkersuisut should explain more clearly what their decision is based on?
– Yes. I definitely mean that, says Jess G. Berthelsen to Sermitsiaq.
Here is the naalakkersuisut’s explanation, to which SIK’s chairman refers:
“A decision has been made to announce the refusal of the application for extension, as further exploration in the area is not assessed to be able to lead to the discovery of deposits that can be exploited in accordance with the Uranium Act”
Sermitsiaq has contacted naalakkersuisoq for raw materials, Múte B. Egede (IA), to get a response to the criticism, but by the time the article was completed, no response had yet been received.
SIK: Let go of fear
According to SIK’s decisions at their congress, raw materials must be extracted, regardless of what they contain. Also those with uranium.
– For us, the most important thing is that the rare earth species in South Greenland, which the world needs, are utilized.
– I believe that we must put the very great fear of substances with uranium behind us. Our country is short of money. We need them, says Jess G. Berthelsen.
The organization believes that such projects should be started if the incomes of the wage earners in Greenland and the national treasury are to stand financially stronger.
– Our country lacks money, and therefore it is absolutely necessary to start new income opportunities now.
– I do not believe that Naalakkersuisut and the elected officials are deliberately trying to prevent wage increases. It is not like that. It is because we lack money that the situation is like this, says Jess G. Berthelsen.
The opposition does not agree
The workers’ union is not alone in its criticism. The opposition parties in Inatsisartut, Siumut and Naleraq, also do not agree with Naalakkersuisut’s decision.
According to what Siumut’s chairman Aleqa Hammond has previously told Sermitsiaq, the party wants mining both with and without uranium.
– Regardless of whether there is uranium or not, Siumut agrees that our country should have raw material extraction, says Aleqa Hammond.
Naleraq’s chairman, Pele Broberg, emphasizes that the party has no interest in mining at this time. But they assess Naalakkersuisut’s refusal as something that appears to a greater extent untrustworthy to possible partners in the world.
Naalakkersuisoq for raw materials has not yet answered that criticism. Sermitsiaq is still working on getting an interview with naalakkersuisoq.
