Greenland and France sign mineral cooperation agreement
Greenland and France have signed a new technical cooperation agreement aimed at expanding geological knowledge of the Arctic island and supporting future mineral exploration.
The agreement was signed during the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) mining convention in Toronto between Greenland’s government and BRGM, the French Geological Survey. The partnership will focus on improving geological data and mapping Greenland’s mineral potential.
The first project under the agreement will involve satellite-based geological mapping of Greenland’s ice-free areas, using French expertise and technology to collect new data about the island’s geology.
Greenland’s Minister for Business, Mineral Resources, Energy, Justice and Gender Equality, Naaja H. Nathanielsen, said the cooperation would help close gaps in knowledge about Greenland’s geology and strengthen the country’s ability to attract exploration investment.
“The agreement is a direct result of the increased cooperation between Greenland and France following President Emmanuel Macron’s visit last summer,” Nathanielsen said in a statement. “The planned surveys bring world-class French expertise and capacity and help fill gaps in our knowledge of Greenland’s geology.”
She said the goal is to collect important exploration data “quickly and efficiently without compromising quality.”
According to the Greenlandic government, the initial project will focus on a test satellite survey of two regions, each covering several hundred thousand square kilometres. The surveys aim to generate new geological information that could support future exploration activities.
“The knowledge we gain through this cooperation will be important for attracting future exploration to Greenland,” Nathanielsen said. “We are therefore very grateful for France’s willingness to cooperate.”
The partnership will also focus on identifying critical raw materials, which are increasingly important for global supply chains, including technologies used in renewable energy and advanced manufacturing.
Officials from both countries attended the signing ceremony, including Peter Borg, Greenland’s Minister for Fisheries, Hunting, Agriculture, Self-sufficiency and Environment, and Nicolas Forissier, France’s minister delegate responsible for international trade and economic attractiveness.
The agreement will initially run for three years, with the possibility of extension. The first satellite mapping project is expected to be completed later in 2026.
Greenland and France are also exploring the possibility of signing a broader memorandum of understanding on mineral resources to deepen cooperation in the future.
