Greenland’s government expects to introduce legislation for a temporary deep sea mining moratorium in spring 2027 and will hold a public consultation, while the scope of the proposed restrictions remains undecided.
Jørgen T. Hammeken-Holm, head of Greenland’s Department of Business and Mineral Resources, confirmed the timetable and consultation plans in written responses to GreenlandEnergy.com. He also confirmed that Parliament’s decision does not change how applications are handled before legislation takes effect.
Inatsisartut, Greenland’s Parliament, approved a resolution on October 15 directing Naalakkersuisut, the government, to prepare the legislation.
Under the adopted committee amendment, the proposed moratorium would cover the granting of exploration and exploitation licenses for deep sea mining. It would initially expire automatically on December 31, 2029, with the government able to extend it for two years at a time. A relevant parliamentary committee would have to be informed before an extension decision.
Scope remains undecided
The government has yet to determine how “deep sea mining” would be defined. Asked whether the legislation would use a water depth threshold or geographical boundaries, and how shallow water or coastal mineral exploration would be treated, Hammeken-Holm said: “We don’t know yet. It is not decided yet.”
The treatment of existing licenses and pending applications also remains unresolved.
“We do not normally apply regulations retroactively. But not decided yet,” he said when asked whether the moratorium would apply solely to granting new licenses or could affect existing rights and applications.
Protecting marine ecosystems and livelihoods
The initiative originated with Inuit Ataqatigiit member Pipaluk Lynge, whose February proposal cited Norway’s interest in deep sea mining and concerns about potential effects on marine food chains, fisheries and hunting. Lynge argued that Greenland should establish protections before allowing activities whose consequences remained uncertain.
The Business and Mineral Resources Committee subsequently recommended a temporary licensing moratorium through an amendment backed by its Demokraatit, Inuit Ataqatigiit and Atassut members. Its October 12 report emphasized limited scientific knowledge of the potential environmental consequences and the need to protect marine ecosystems and traditional livelihoods. The committee also said it had been informed that no deep sea mining activities had taken place or were planned in Greenland.
In its May 5 response to the original proposal, Naalakkersuisut explained that Greenland’s Mineral Activities Act does not distinguish between granting licenses on land and on the seabed. Activities nevertheless require approval and must meet environmental and safety requirements.
The government said existing knowledge gaps would make deep sea exploitation difficult to approve, but considered those safeguards insufficient protection for the marine environment. It therefore supported clearer legislation before such activities developed.
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