Mining companies: Take advantage of opportunities to build career(s)

Photo: Nina-Vivi Møller Andersen

The Mineral Resources Fair has just been held in all three cities in South Greenland. Amaroq Minerals, GreenRoc, Tanbreez, Naalakkersuisoq for Industry, Trade, Mineral Resources, Justice and Gender Equality, the Mayor of Kommune Kujalleq and a green energy expert attended the fairs in Nanortalik, Qaqortoq and Narsaq.

There are a total of three promesing mining projects in South Greenland. Amaroq Minerals, which is about to reopen the Nalunaq gold mine near Nanortalik.

In addition, the graphite deposit at Amitsoq (just opposite Nalunaq), where the company GreenRoc is in charge of the project. And Tanbreez Mining, which will mine rare earth metals at Killavaat Alannguat (Kringlerne).

The Mineral Resources Fair started in Nanortalik on Friday, September 6, from 9:00 am to around 4:00 pm, where young people from Majoriaq and interested citizens attended the fair. The companies presented their plans and citizens had the opportunity to ask questions. Even though the fair was during working hours, several young people and interested citizens attended.

Interesting questions

Among other things, the locals asked how the health examination was carried out, as there can be challenges in terms of communication between the national health care service and the mining company. Naalakkersuisoq Naaja Nathanielsen noted the problem and will continue to work on it.

There were also questions about how the Nalunaq gold mine and the Amitsoq mine could be serviced at the same time. Local businesses in Nanortalik are already struggling to keep up with the development in Nalunaq, especially in terms of transportation of people. In addition, some citizens want a kiosk in Nalunaq.

The fair continued in Qaqortoq on Saturday, September 7 and ended in Narsaq on Sunday, September 8.

Local labor is important for the projects

Amaroq Minerals is currently building the mine and expects to extract gold by spring 2025. While the Amitsoq project is waiting for investors and has to do the statutory reports to get started, and at best can start in 4-5 years.

South Greenland Boat Charter 44 (SGBC 44) from Nanortalik has been working with Amaroq Minerals since they started exploring the area seven years ago. The owner, Poul-Erik Frederiksen, finds it difficult to see how two mines can run simultaneously, as it is already difficult to follow the development of the gold mine.

- "The development in Nalunaq has gone so fast that it's hard for us to keep up. We sail as much as we can, we have five captains, but we still can't keep up. So I find it hard to see two mines running at the same time. We could invest in another boat, but then where will my crew live? If we are to attract more local workers, we also need to look at the basic needs that families require.If the mines are to develop, our town will also have to develop,” Poul-Erik Frederiksen tells Innovation South Greenland.

SGBC 44 provides services for Air Greenland and Amaroq Minerals, among others. In addition to SGBC 44, Diskoline, BlueIce and other companies also provide service to Amaroq Minerals. Both from Nanortalik, Qaqortoq and Narsaq are well utilized by Amaroq Minerals.

During the fair, all the promising mines in South Greenland emphasized that local labor is indispensable. The mines express a great need for young people with different skills.

- "Of course we always need cleaners or people in the canteen, but we must emphasize that young people also have the opportunity to learn how to drill or work with larger machines. This way they can develop their careers and maybe get the motivation to work in the mining industry for several years. “We are willing to train young people and we are ready to welcome them,” says Eldur Olafsson, CEO of Amaroq Minerals, among others. 

Resumption of graphite production in Amitsoq

Amitsoq is a disused mine where graphite was mined back in 1911-24. GreenRoc wants to reopen it, as graphite is urgently needed in electric cars, for example. Electric cars use about 60-70 kg of graphite in the battery and over the next ten years it is expected that the majority of the world's cars will be electric cars.If the world is to become greener, graphite is crucial.

GreenRoc drilled in Amitsoq in 2021 and 2022 and their results show that there are at least 23 million tons of ore with over 20 percent graphite. This means the mine could be open for at least 20 years.

It is expected that 135 employees will be needed. 

- "We'll be mining under the mountain at a depth of about 2-300 meters, we'll build a port, camp and all the necessary things you need to have in the mine. If everything goes well, we expect to start in 2028, but it will take about two years to build the mine and camp,” says Stefan Bernstein, CEO of GreenRoc, during a presentation at the fair.  

The Tanbreez project has been underway for over 20 years. The company will mine rare earths, the demand for rare earths is high as they are used for e.g. wind turbines, cell phones and satellites in space.  

Tanbreez believes that 90 percent of the employees can be local labor.Tanbreez will not use chemicals or toxins in the mine.

Tanbreez is now owned by an American company, Critical Metals Corp.

Tanbreez says that in Killavaat Alannguat, the entire mountain contains rare earth elements that are sought after, unlike other mines where much of the ore becomes waste.

Central role for the region

Mayor Stine Egede emphasizes the importance of expanding business in South Greenland with a focus on security and sustainability.  

Mining companies such as Amaroq Minerals, GreenRoc and Tanbreez play a key role in the future of the region, and one of the major challenges is to secure enough labor in the area. We need to create more local jobs, but we also need to remember that outside workers are welcome too.

- "By securing local labor in the mines, we can retain knowledge about working in the mines, and in this way, we can also help to develop mines in the future. When larger companies move to smaller places, they also bring new labor and I hope that in this way we can also attract educated people", says Mayor Stine Egede at the fair.

Naalakkersuisoq for Industry, Trade, Minerals, Justice and Gender Equality, Naaja Nathanielsen, participated in the fair and explained how the process works when major companies show interest in creating mines in the country.

The fair was made possible in collaboration between Kommune Kujalleq, Naalakkersuisut, Innovation South Greenland and the mining companies.