Terminating activities

When mining activities are to cease, the licensee must remove facilities and also clean up the area where the activities took place. The Government of Greenland may require the licensee to provide a guarantee.

By law, companies wishing to commence mining activities must seek to limit the danger of pollution and take opportunities for the disposal of pollutants into account. The Act also contains provisions to be complied with in order to protect the climate and the natural environment.

When a threat of environmental damage is imminent, the person responsible must seek to avert it and inform Naalakkersuisut of the danger. The licensee has a duty to provide compensation for any damage.

Naalakkersuisut establishes an emergency committee and if need be a casualty commission in connection with offshore activities.

Exploitation of oil and mineral deposits, use of underground and energy resources, construction of major facilities in connection with activities, and the termination of operations at such facilities are only allowed when an assessment of impacts on the environment has been made, and an appropriate statement has been approved by the Government of Greenland (the so-called EIA).