Mining on the ice-free coast

1-channel video projection
4:15 min

5 screens with interviews with:
Hans Hinrichsen, director of the Greenland School of Minerals and Petroleum in Sisimiut;
Mariane Paviasen, politician and activist;
Malik Vahl Rasmussen, Greenland ice exporter;
Naaja H. Nathanielsen, Minister of Mining in the Greenlandic government;
Greg Barnes, geologist, investor, instigator of the Tanbreez project.
4-6 min each

Courtesy ALPS Swiss Alpine Museum, Bern

Greenland is rich in mineral resources: metals, gemstones, coal, graphite, uranium, oil, gas and rare earth elements. Around 120 mining projects with international investors are currently awaiting approval. With his Tanbreez project near Qaqortoq, Australian entrepreneur Greg Barnes is planning to mine one of the largest deposits of rare earth elements. Rare earth elements are used in the manufacture of smartphones, LEDs, electric motors and wind turbines. Mining in Greenland will make Europe and North America less dependent on production from China, which currently dominates the market. However, mining projects are controversial.