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Kuannersuit, whose operator was in the final stages of securing a permit to mine, was a flashpoint issue in April s election because locals fear the uranium it contains could harm the country s fragile environment.
As far as we are concerned, uranium is a political issue which is being driven by exaggerated and misleading claims, license holder Greenland Minerals CEO John Mair told Reuters.
The mine could bring in royalties of around 1.5 billion Danish kroner ($233 million) each year, the government has said.
By contrast, revenue from two small mines operating in the country is negligible, and Nathanielsen says the government s budget plans do not assume any mining revenue.
The Danish money trap
Some see little point in mineral exploitation until Greenland has achieved independence.
A Danish colony until 1953, the semi-autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark has the right to declare independence through a simple vote, but that is likely to be a distant prospect.
Greenland has commissioned work to draft a constitution for a future independent Greenland.
Meanwhile, Greenland s 57,000 people rely on fishing and grants from Denmark.
The grants would be reduced in proportion to future earnings from mining, prompting some to say the minerals should be left in the ground for now.
Under the current agreement, large-scale mineral extraction makes no sense, Pele Broberg, minister for business and trade, told Reuters. Why should we do that while we re subject to another country?
Others are concerned the government is deterring investment in large-scale mining of more conventional minerals, which they say is the way to diversify the economy and make it capable of standing alone.
[Major uranium miner halts Greenland exploration amid ban discussion]
Jess Berthelsen, head of Greenland s labor union SIK, had hoped the planned mine at Kuannersuit and other large-scale projects would create jobs and said the Danish grants held Greenland back.
Sometimes I wish Denmark would stop sending money, because then people in this country would start waking up. It s lulling us to sleep, he said.
Business lobbyists meanwhile worry about government s plan to reinstate a uranium ban only eight years after it was lifted.
The companies are used to being under pressure from authorities, but they are not used to this kind of instability, Christian Keldsen, head of Greenland Business Association, said.
Local support
Those living nearest to the standout mineral in the government plans for sustainable mining tend to support the pursuit of new income.
We have to find other ways to make money. We can t just live off fishing, said Johannes Hansen, a local fireman and carpenter living in Qeqertarsuatsiaat. The town of around 160 people is about 50 minutes by boat from the planned anorthosite mine.
Greenland Anorthosite Mining, which is developing the mine, has a plan to ship 120 tonnes of crushed anorthosite to potential customers in the fiberglass industry where it says it has value as a more environmental alternative to kaolin.
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