Public hearings on a controversial rare earth and uranium mining project in Greenland opened on Friday despite threats to local government officials, authorities in the autonomous Danish territory in the Arctic said.

"There has not been anything indicating a security risk," local police told AFP, adding that "it is safe for everyone to attend."

Located in the fjords of southern Greenland in Narsarq, the Kvanefjeld deposit is rich in rare earth minerals, a group of 17 metals used as components in high-tech devices such as smartphones, flat screen displays, electric cars and weapons.

Australian mining group Greenland Minerals, backed by Chinese group Shenghe, obtained an exploration license for the site in 2010.

The public hearings, which are due to go on through June, allow residents to address their questions and concerns to the company, primarily regarding the impact of the project on the environment and society.

The hearings are a requirement before any mining license can be granted, and are going ahead despite threats received by members of Greenland's local government in recent days.

Cabinet members have however chosen not to take part, in order to ensure the hearings can proceed without disruption.

The threats "targeted politicians and not company representatives or authorities", Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a statement.

In September, Greenland Minerals' environmental protection plan was finally approved after three successive rejections, but opposition to the project remains steadfast.

Critics have expressed concerns about the disposal of radioactive waste extracted from the minerals, while supporters claim the island would benefit from a massive financial windfall that would boost its quest for full independence from Denmark.

Greenland is financially dependent on Copenhagen, receiving annual subsidies of around 480 million euros, or about 60 percent of its budget.

According to a recent report by the local government, Greenland could be one of the world's 10 biggest uranium producers. The territory is authorised to exploit its vast mineral resources independently of Copenhagen.

In early 2020, exploration licenses were granted for southern Greenland. French group Orano said Thursday it had received two exploration permits to look for uranium in the south.

Greenland Minerals plans to mine three million tonnes of minerals each year, including 30,000 tonnes of rare earths, 15,000 tonnes of zinc and 517 tonnes of uranium.

Greece approves disputed goldmine project: embassies
Athens (AFP) Feb 5, 2021 - Greece's conservative government has approved a long-disputed gold mining project held up for years by environmental concerns, the embassies of Canada and the United States said Friday.

The embassies said in a joint statement that they "welcome the signing (of the agreement) today between Hellas Gold (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canadian-based Eldorado Gold Corporation) and the government of Greece."

The embassies said the deal "will bring almost 1.7 billion euros ($2.1 billion) in investment from North America over a period of 23 years" and create up to 5,000 direct and indirect jobs to develop the Kassandra Mines in the northeastern peninsula of Halkidiki.

Eldorado Gold has also pledged a social development programme amounting to 70 million euros in the local communities over the life of the investment, the statement said.

The goldmine project on Skouries mountain has sparked years of protests, including a raid in 2013, when hooded militants threw Molotov cocktails at the mine worksite, wounding a guard and damaging equipment.

The previous leftist government in 2015 stalled work on the goldmine over alleged contract violations.

The pro-business conservative government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, which came to power in 2019, had vowed to unblock the project under strict environmental safeguards.

A note from the ministry of energy and environment said the modified deal "maximises benefits for the national economy, local society and the environment."

Eldorado called the agreement mutually beneficial, saying it gives it greater protections and a permitting framework similar to other large-scale foreign investment project in Greece.

"For the Hellenic Republic, it provides enhanced fiscal revenues, environmental benefits, and community development opportunities," said the Canadian firm in a statement.

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