(MENAFN) Greenland has awarded a 30-year mining license to a Danish-French consortium, Greenland Anorthosite Mining (GAM), to extract anorthosite—a moon-like rock seen as an eco-friendly alternative for aluminum production. The license was granted amid rising global interest in the Arctic region, including US President Donald Trump’s repeated suggestions to buy the autonomous island, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Anorthosite, a white rock rich in aluminum, micro silica, and calcium, will be mined and exported by GAM for use in the fiberglass industry as a sustainable substitute for kaolin. The company is backed by France’s Jean Boulle Group and investment funds from Greenland and Denmark.

Greenland’s Minister for Mineral Resources, Naaja Nathanielsen, said the goal is to develop the mine to provide a greener alternative to bauxite, which is critical in manufacturing aircraft, vehicles, and defense equipment. She expressed optimism that mining operations could begin within five years.

Despite geopolitical attention and Trump’s calls to acquire Greenland—even threatening force to claim it—there has been no significant US investment in the territory. Nathanielsen noted that while American investors have visited, no substantial funding has yet entered Greenland’s business sector. Cooperation with EU partners, however, is advancing steadily.

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