Overview
- U.S. political attention has surged toward Greenland’s critical minerals, yet analysts argue the island is an unfavorable venue for rare-earth projects given high costs and limited access.
- The U.S. Geological Survey estimates roughly 31 billion barrels of oil-equivalent onshore in northeast Greenland, highlighting vast but undeveloped hydrocarbon potential.
- Academic studies suggest substantial sub-ice stores of dysprosium and neodymium, but the size and economic recoverability of these resources remain uncertain.
- Roughly four-fifths of Greenland is covered by ice and the territory has few roads, leaving mining and processing infrastructure largely absent.
- Greenland’s strict permitting and environmental concerns pose additional hurdles as U.S. strategic interest intensifies.