Mining in Greenland- pros and cons

1. http://licence-map.bmp.gl/
GREENLAND
Exploration & Exploitation
- London Mining iron ore project

2. London mining - Isua
• Isua/Isukasia is located 150km Northeast of Nuuk and 100km
from a proposed deep seawater port. From its position in the
warmer south-west corner of Greenland it will allow for year
round shipping.
• The project http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHxXcYd_O0A
• A multi billion dollar mineproject build and run by chinese
owned company London Mining. Probarbly funded by China
development bank.
• More information :
http://www.londonmining.co.uk/uploads/londonminingisuafi
nalenglish.pdf

6. How to sell a London Mining project to investors...
- Greenland - the chinese highway into the arctic

7. A well planned and government
approved project
• It seems thats all official legislation concerning
mine exploration and exploitation is in place
• The Greenland Selfrule Government are intensely
working for this project to become a reality.
• Probarbly a very “ green” setup compared to
many other mines in african or first nation
countries
• It seems that the the oil & mining way is the one
and only way for Greenland to go to overcome
financial difficulties and work towards 100%
independence from Denmark

8. But...
• Inuit Circum Polar Council(ICC) and the World Wildlife
Foundation(WWF) join forces. They proclaim that the
democratic proces is at stake regarding London Mining
Project and the handling of the project issues, hearings,
and different reports requested by Greenland government
(paid by London Mining)
- http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_f
Translated(google) document : First of its kind report
(one to read!!!) from two above NGO´s
• Also the greenland environmental NGO, Avataq
(www.avataq.gl)have expressed severe concern on these
topics(but do not have economic capacity to conduct any
contra-reports)

9. Society concerns
Two examples :
(Reuters) – “By a remote fjord where icebergs float in silence and
hunters stalk reindeer, plans are being drawn up for a huge iron ore
mine that would lift Greenland's population by four percent at a
stroke - by hiring Chinese workers”.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/05/us-greenland-
idUSBRE8A40MR20121105
Criticism: London Mining overhears experts
Contrary to the advice of raw Directorate experts will London
Mining using aheating oil pollutes more than necessary
By Rune Langhoff
14:07, 28 September 2012
London Mining should use light and not heavy fuel oil for marine
transport to and from the planned iron mine at Isukasia, believe
experts from DCE, National Centre for Environment and Energy,
which advises the BMP.
http://sermitsiaq.ag/node/136785

10. Pros and Cons
Pro - London mining Con – London Mining
• This project can give Greenland • This project will need a lot of
economy a boost foreign labour, primarely
• Will create many jobs chinese(labour dumping)
• This project can create an easier • This is a high risk environmental
project in a fragile arctic area
path for coming projects
• This project will go on in a highly
• The project can help educate and
valuated raindeer hunting and
create a new work sector fishing ground
• Its a project which could run on • This will bring world political
waterpower for up to 50% of total issues in the game
needed energy
• This project will bring chinese
• A longterm project and investment power closer to the arctic agenda
• Etc. • Etc.

11. My conlusion
The greenlandic economy is under pressure due to a bigger demand for Everyone to have a
certain/minimum standard of living. The danish government supports Greenland with aprox. 500mill
US a year. This amount/value is slowly decreasing.
There is public concern on how to embrace these fortcoming economic problems. At the same time
small settlements and cities struggle to maintain everyday living standard, aswell as the fishing quotas
is getting smaller because of a changing in climate.and related problems.
So overall, I think that we do need to develop the mineral sector. It is important and nesessary. On the
other hand the introduction of the first large scale mining project in Greenland – London Mining,
leaves a impression that the people will not have any “vote” on this. The public hearings and the
different reports are made with only one purpose. To open the mine no matter what. So we see a
democratic proces where the people of Greenland if left outside while multi national enterprises and
few government employees plan the Greenland future with all its uncertainty and environmental
aspects.
No doubt that this will have a great impact on the Nuuk area, the fiord, the ecosystem and so on, but
the most disturbing thing about this is that there is not really somebody to “defend us” against The
greenland government and London Mining planning and reports. There is only one side of the table
represented.(except for two NGO´s : Avataq, environmental org. and ICC – Inuit Circumpolar
Confederation). This is the first project of its kind, we need it, but we also need a democratic proces
and better researched project from the counterpart – the people of Greenland. We have a great
opportunity in Greenland to earn the respect form other first nations. We have a opportunity to make
an exanple on how to do a “green” mine model. But do we dare ??