Greenland’s minerals and China’s green energy dominance

Tuesday 13 April 2021, 13.00-14.30
DIIS ∙ Danish Institute for International Studies
Online via Zoom

Rare Earth Elements (REE) are vital for modern technology and the green transition and therefore Greenland’s large REE deposits have gathered a lot of international attention in recent years.

Two mining projects in southern Greenland are drawing close to realization and have the potential to become leading global suppliers of REE-raw materials. The projects, however, are likely to feed into Chinese dominated REE supply chains. In fact, without China it is difficult to imagine the transition to a carbon neutral future. Greenlandic deposits could thus further contribute to the consolidation of China’s position as a green energy superpower.

Based on the new DIIS policy brief ‘Greenland’s Minerals to Consolidate China’s Rare Earth Dominance?’ this seminar discusses what this scenario will mean for Greenland and for Greenland’s political ambitions, for REE dependent European and US industries, and for the geopolitical balance in the Arctic.

Speakers
Per Kalvig, Chief Advisor, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS)
Mads Qvist Frederiksen, Director, Arctic Economic Council
Jesper Zeuthen, Associate Professor, Aalborg University
Hans Lucht, Senior Researcher, DIIS
Ulrik Pram Gad, Senior Researcher, DIIS

Programme
13:00–13:05 Introduction and welcome, Hans Lucht

13:05–13:20 Presentation of New DIIS Policy Brief, Per Kalvig

13:20–13:30 Danish and European Industries and the Demand for Rare Earth Elements, Mads Qvist Frederiksen

13:30–13:45 China’s Rare Earth Politics and Strategies, Jesper Zeuthen

13:45–14:00 Greenlandic Mineral Politics and Strategies, Ulrik Pram Gad

14:00–14:30 Discussion, moderator Hans Lucht