Greenland’s mineral edge: opportunity and obstacles

Greenland’s vast reserves of critical minerals and rare earth elements could significantly impact global supply chains, especially as industries look to diversify away from mainland China. While recent investments highlight rising international interest in Greenland’s resources for clean energy and technology, the island’s harsh climate, limited infrastructure and regulatory challenges remain significant obstacles to unlocking its full potential.

Greenland has emerged as a strategic area due to its extensive reserves of rare earth elements (REEs) and other critical minerals essential to industries such as automotive, defense, and clean energy. Its resource base includes REEs, graphite, copper, nickel, zinc, iron ore and tungsten, which are key inputs to clean energy technology. According to the National Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), the island contains an estimated 36.1 million metric tons of REE resources, with the Kvanefjeld and Tanbreez deposits in southern Greenland representing the most significant concentrations. A GEUS report published in November 2023 also found that Greenland hosts deposits of 25 of the 34 critical raw materials identified by the European Commission, including lithium, copper, niobium, tantalum and titanium.