US EditionGreenland Rare Earth Mining Face Billions in Costs, Years of Delays
Greenland holds about 1.5 million metric tons of rare earth elements, but mining faces high costs, environmental concerns, and infrastructure challenges, delaying production years, experts say.
- This year, plans to develop Greenland's rare earths face delays as many projects remain exploratory, may not produce for years, and require at least hundreds of millions from investors and governments financing operations.
- Only three to four months of viable exploration each year limit progress, requiring helicopters and bespoke infrastructure that raise costs and demand local power generation and imported experts, said Majken Djurhuus Poulsen, geologist, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland.
- Lumina Sustainable Materials operates Greenland's only active mine producing anorthosite, took over a decade to reach production, and has recently secured a rare earth exploration license, while Critical Metals plans a pilot plant this year.
- The U.S. government has invested hundreds of millions and taken stakes in mining firms to reduce reliance on China, while Washington pushes to expand non‑Chinese supplies during a one-year reprieve.
- More than 90% of global rare earths come from China, while MP Materials and allies offer quicker supply; Patrick Schröder warns of uranium and toxic chemical risks in Greenland's fragile Arctic.
54 Articles
54 Articles
Greenland, Rare Earths, and Arctic Security
Greenland holds globally significant rare earth resources, but harsh conditions and weak infrastructure have stalled mining. U.S. interests are best advanced not through coercion, but coordinated investment with European allies to counter China’s influence.
Santa Maria Times
Greenland's harsh environment, lack of key infrastructure, and complex geology have so far prevented anyone from building a mine to extract the coveted rare earth elements required by many high-tech products. Even if…
Times of India
The Economic TimesGreenland's harsh environment and lack of infrastructure have prevented rare earth mining
President Trump eyes Greenland for rare earth minerals, aiming to break China's hold. However, the island's harsh conditions and complex geology present significant mining hurdles. Experts suggest focusing on more accessible projects. Greenland's potential for rare earth extraction remains uncertain, with efforts still in early stages. Geopolitical strategy appears to drive the focus on Greenland more than immediate supply solutions.
Associated Press News
Greenland’s harsh environment and lack of infrastructure have prevented rare earth mining
Greenland’s harsh environment, lack of key infrastructure and difficult geology have prevented anyone from building a mine to extract the sought-after rare earth elements that many high-tech products require.
We visited Greenland's only fully operational mine. Here's what it takes to operate in the Arctic.
Aerial shot of Lumina's Greenland mine.Mark Adam MillerGreenland has no shortage of valuable minerals. What it lacks is almost everything else needed to extract them.Greenland is one of the most logistically hostile environments on the planet — a place with no roads between towns, limited labor, and weather that can shut down operations without warning.Still, world leaders and investors across the globe have their eyes on the island for its natu…
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