PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Greenland Bureau of Mines and Petroleum (BMP) has approved ASX-listed Greenland Minerals and Energy’s application for an exploration licence under the new Greenlandic Mining Act.

The licence, which covers the Kvanefjeld multielement project in southern Greenland, was the second in the new license series to be issued by the new self-governing Parliament, the company reported.

Applications under the new regulations require the BMP to issue a recommendation to the Greenlandic government, which approves the licence.

Greenland Minerals and Energy was looking to explore for rare earths and uranium at the Kvanefjeld project.

However, the country currently had zero tolerance towards uranium exploration and mining, but the ASX-listed explorer said that it was confident that a “clear process” existed to resolve the issue in a “constructive and positive way” for all stakeholders.

Greenland Minerals and Energy had completed a week of meetings in Greenland prior to the licensing process.

“It is the company’s view that the current zero tolerance towards uranium mining and exploration is likely to be resolved during November 2010,” said company chairperson Michael Hutchinson.

Greenland Minerals and Energy would accelerate the 2010 work programme at Kvanefjeld, which would include environmental and social impact assessments to ensure that the Joint Ore Reserve Committee compliant 4,79-million ton rare earth oxide and 0,12-million ton uranium oxide project was in a position to initiate the full bankable feasibility study, by the end of this year.

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