Uranium in Greenland: Questions of Resources and Security in a Self-Government Setting

Abstract

The exploitation of minerals in Greenland is governed by the Greenlandic Mineral Resource Act of 2009. Among the mineral resources is uranium. The exploitation of minerals lies within the competences of the self-government. However, the areas of foreign policy and security remain the competences of the Realm. When the socalled zero tolerance policy was lifted in 2013, the Danish Government insisted that uranium mining could not be under the (sole) competences of the Greenlandic self-government, as uranium is a dual-use good. In January 2016, the Greenlandic and the Danish government signed an agreement on exploitation and export of uranium and other radioactive resources. We are now are left with the question of competences not being unequivocally legally solved. And in addition we have open questions as to responsibility under international law.