The Mineral Resources Act is the framework legislation for all activities related to mineral and hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation (Mineral Resources Act Explanatory Notes).
Greenland Parliament Act no. 7 of December 7, 2009, on mineral resources and mineral resource activities (the Mineral Resources Act) came into force on January 1st 2010. The Act is valid with following amendments:
Greenland Parliament Act No. 26 of 18 December 2012
Greenland Parliament Act No. 6 of 8 June 2014
Greenland Parliament Act No. 16 of 3 June 2015
Greenland Parliament Act No. 34 of 28 November 2016
Greenland Parliament Act No. 16 of 27 November 2018
Greenland Parliament Act No. 39 of 28 November 2019 (Explanatory notes)
The Uranium Act prohibits all preliminary investigation, research and exploitation of uranium, as well as preliminary investigation, investigation and exploitation of other minerals if the resource being investigated, investigated or exploited contains more than 100 ppm uranium (Note to the Uranium Act).
Inatsisartut Act No. 20 of 1 December 2021 on prohibition of preliminary investigation, research and exploitation of uranium etc. entered into force on 2 December 2021. The law is applicable.
The purpose of the law is to ensure that no uranium is mined in Greenland or no uranium mined in Greenland is sold. In addition, the law authorizes Naalakkersuisut to introduce similar bans on other radioactive elements, as well as to restrict or revoke permits if exploitation cannot take place in accordance with the law.
In Greenland there is no privately owned land, all rights to any use of land is administered by the Government of Greenland. The Government can therefore grant rights to several legal activities in the same land area. Please see this document for further information.
The Act is intended as a framework act, constituting the main principles for the administration of mineral resource activities. Further, the Act authorizes the Government of Greenland to lay down provisions in executive orders, standard license terms, as well as specific licence terms. The Act aims to ensure that activities under the Act are securely performed with regards to safety, health, environment, resource exploitation, social sustainability, and assurance that all activities are conducted in accordance with acknowledged best international practices under similar conditions.
The Government of Greenland and mineral licensees must also comply with the following acts and rules relevant to mineral exploration and exploitation in Greenland:
- Unofficial consolidation of the Public Access Act
- Executive Order on case administration in the public administration
- Executive Order concerning reimbursement of expenses
For the official, and legally binding Acts, please see the official legal documents in Greenlandic or Danish at www.lovgivning.gl.