Voldgiftsretten har, den 28. oktober 2025, truffet afgørelse om hvorvidt sagen anlagt af Greenland Minerals A/S mod Naalakkersuisut, kan behandles for en voldgiftsret.

Voldgiftsretten har besluttet, at spørgsmålet om retten til at udnytte mineraler ved Kuannersuit, ikke kan føres for en voldgiftsret og at den danske stat ikke kan være part i sagen.

Sagen blev indbragt for voldgiftsretten af Greenland Minerals A/S den 22. marts 2022. Ifølge Greenland Minerals A/S’ påstand skulle Naalakkersuisut pålægges at meddele selskabet en tilladelse til udnyttelse af mineraler ved Kuannersuit.

Sagen udsprang af vedtagelse af uranloven, som forbyder forundersøgelser, efterforskning og udnyttelse af uran. Loven hindrer at der kan meddeles en tilladelse til udnyttelse i selskabets tilladelsesområde, da uranværdierne overskrider uranlovens bagatelgrænse.

Naalakkersuisut var overrasket over, at selskabet valgte at indbringe sagen for en voldgiftsret, da Naalakkersuisuts skønsmæssige afgørelser kun kan indbringes for domstolene, og Naalakkersuisut har gennem hele sagen fastholdt, at voldgiftsretten ikke har kompetence til at træffe afgørelse i sagen. Voldgiftsrettens afgørelse var derfor forventelig.

I sin afgørelse forbeholder voldgiftsretten sig muligheden for at afgøre et eventuelt spørgsmål om udmåling af erstatning, såfremt en domstol i fremtiden når frem til at dette spørgsmål hører under voldgiftsrettens kompetence.

Naalakkersuisoq for Erhverv, Råstoffer, Energi, Justitsområdet og Ligestilling, Naaja H. Nathanielsen, udtaler:

”Naalakkersuisut er meget tilfreds med afgørelsen. Det er naturligvis en kæmpe lettelse, at denne del af sagen nu er overstået, og at vi har vundet. Men sagen kører videre ved domstolene, da Greenland Minerals A/S også har anlagt sager, både ved Grønlands Landsret og byretten i København, med samme påstande, som i voldgiftssagen. Disse sager er i det indledende stadie, så der er lang vej endnu. Ikke desto mindre er denne sejr vigtig og de udgifter Selvstyret har haft til sagen skal nu dækkes af Greenland Minerals A/S. Naalakkersuisut mener fortsat at sagen er principiel og fortsætter nu med fornyet styrke.”


For yderligere informationer, kontakt Departementschef Jørgen T. Hammeken-Holm på joeh@nanoq.gl

After more than 3 years, the Government of Greenland (Naalakkersuisut) prevails in arbitration

The arbitration tribunal has, on 28 October 2025, made a decision on whether the case brought by Greenland Minerals A/S against Naalakkersuisut could be handled by an arbitral tribunal.

The tribunal has decided that the question concerning the right to exploit minerals at Kuannersuit can not be tried before an arbitral tribunal, and that the Danish state can not be a party to the case.

The case was brought before the arbitral tribunal by Greenland Minerals A/S on 22 March 2022. According to the company’s claim, Naalakkersuisut was to be obliged to issue the company a licence for the exploitation of minerals at Kuannersuit.

The case arose following the adoption of the Uranium Act, which prohibits prospecting, exploration, and exploitation of uranium. The law prevents any exploitation licence from being granted within the company’s license area, as the uranium concentrations there exceed the legal threshold defined in the Uranium Act.

Naalakkersuisut was surprised that the company chose to bring the matter before an arbitral tribunal, since Naalakkersuisut’s discretionary decisions can only be brought before ordinary courts. Throughout the case, Naalakkersuisut has maintained that the arbitral tribunal does not have jurisdiction to decide the matter. The tribunal’s decision was therefore expected.

In its ruling, the arbitral tribunal reserves the right to decide on any potential issue of compensation, should a future court find that such a matter falls within the tribunal’s competence.

The minister of Business, Mineral Resources, Energy, Justice and Gender Equality, Naaja H. Nathanielsen, states:

“Naalakkersuisut is very pleased with the decision. It is, of course, a huge relief that this part of the case is now concluded and that we have won. However, the case continues before the courts, as Greenland Minerals A/S has also filed cases—both before the High Court of Greenland and the District Court in Copenhagen—with the same claims as in the arbitration case. These cases are still in their early stages, so there is a long way to go. Nevertheless, this victory is important, and the Government of Greenland’s expenses for the arbitration must now be covered by Greenland Minerals A/S. Naalakkersuisut continues to view the case as one of principle and will now proceed with renewed determination.”

For further information, contact the permanent secretary Jørgen T. Hammeken-Holm at joeh@nanoq.gl