The Australian company Energy Transition Minerals (ETM), which via its subsidiary Greenland Minerals, has an exploration permit for Kuannersuit, held a public meeting on 18 March in Narsaq.
Here the company told, among other things, about their upcoming exploration and drilling program in the southern and western part of the Ilimaussaq complex, which is expected to take place in the period from June to September this year in collaboration with the Canadian drilling company Quesnel Bros. Diamond Drilling.
The Australian company Energy Transition Minerals (ETM), which via its subsidiary Greenland Minerals, has an exploration permit for Kuannersuit, held a public meeting on 18 March in Narsaq.
Here the company told, among other things, about their upcoming exploration and drilling program in the southern and western part of the Ilimaussaq complex, which is expected to take place in the period from June to September this year in collaboration with the Canadian drilling company Quesnel Bros. Diamond Drilling.
10-15 local jobs
In addition to drilling, an airborne geological survey of the area from a helicopter is also planned.
According to the company, in connection with the exploration program, 10-15 local jobs will be posted in Narsaq, which may be extended beyond the field season.
– ETM prioritizes strong commitment to the local community in Greenland when we begin this important exploration program. Having operated in Greenland for more than a decade, we value input from local residents and remain committed to an open, constructive dialogue with the local community as the project progresses. As our presence increases ahead of the field season, we look forward to strengthening relationships, engaging and informing about our activities at Kuannersuit. We are also interested in contributing to local economic development, including creating employment opportunities for the citizens of Narsaq as the project activities increase, says the company’s director Daniel Mamadou, according to a recently issued stock exchange announcement.
Questions about uranium and environmental protection
The company estimates that the exploration program will cost them close to DKK 45 million. kroner, but that it will give them the opportunity to assess future mine planning, logistics and development perspectives. In addition, the program aims to fulfill the current investigative obligations required by the authorities.
According to the stock exchange announcement, local citizens asked questions about the company’s environmental management and protection, including the presence of uranium, to which ETM replied that the radiation level is on par with the background radiation in the area, and that the project is designed to minimize potential impacts in accordance with international standards. Finally, they said that the project has been assessed as technically and financially feasible and that they are ready to proceed with the project as soon as they have an exploitation permit from Naalakkersuisut.
Not many listeners
Former chairman of Urani Naamik in Narsaq, Mariane Paviasen Jensen, who is today a member of Inatsisartut for Inuit Ataqatigiit, herself participated in the first half hour of the meeting.
– A demonstration against the company was planned prior to the meeting. There were 10-15 of us who showed up for this demonstration. When we entered the citizens’ meeting, there were six employees from ETM and a few audience members.
According to Mariane Paviasen Jensen, the majority of citizens in Narsaq are still against the mining project.
– I left after half an hour, and instead watched the rest of the meeting via live streaming. I couldn’t stand listening to them. I think that they behave so disrespectfully towards the citizens of this town. Now we have to see if they even get their application for field activities approved in the Ministry of Raw Materials. I hope they are refused, says Mariane Paviasen Jensen.
Correction of information
After the citizens’ meeting, the then naalakkersuisoq for raw materials, Naaja H. Nathanielsen, issued a correction to the company, as it was hinted at the meeting that the company had the prospect of getting an early approval of their permit for Kuannersuit from Naalakkersuisut.
“At the citizen’s meeting, Greenland Minerals A/S’ representative, Svend Hardenberg, General Manager, stated that on March 11 he had a meeting with Naalakkersuisoq for Business, Minerals, Energy, the Justice Area and Equality, Naaja H. Nathanielsen, and where Naalakkersuisoq should have said. “Yes, you get it!” Understood as Naalakkersuisoq indicating that Naalakkersuisut will approve Greenland Minerals A/S’s application for an extension of their permit at Kuannersuit. The rendering, from Svend Hardenberg, of what was said at the meeting, is not correct. “
No decision is expected
According to Naaja H. Nathanielsen, at the respective meeting, “no kind of expectation of the outcome of the decisions was mentioned, nor was any kind of time expectation for the completion of the company’s applications announced. Naalakkersuisut has not processed an application for the extension of Greenland Minerals A/S and Naalakkersuisoq for Business, Raw Materials, Energy, the Justice Area and Equality has not in any way indicated or put a specific decision in perspective”.
The Department of Raw Materials confirms to Sermitsiaq that they have received the company’s application for field activities for the coming season and that the application is currently in three weeks of consultation.
