Pre-feasibility assessment of exploitation of Greenland's marine sand reserves - a technical and economical desk analysis
Type:
Presented during:
CEDA Dredging Days 2026
Authors:
D.C. Roukema, E.C. van Drunen and A.M. Roskam
Abstract
Geological studies have identified the large continental shelf of Greenland contains sand resources in very large quantities. As part of strategic considerations to diversify Greenland's economy in the decades ahead, the Ministry of Mineral Resources investigates the technical and economic feasibility of mining and selling such resources. Blue Pelican Associates BV (Netherlands) was requested to perform a pre-feasibility assessment of the exploitation of Greenland's marine sand reserves. This paper is based on that study (executed in 2021) and consists of the following main topics: 1) The proposed supply chain: methodology and costs, 2) The market situation in various European regions (volumes and prices of aggregates); and 3) The economic potential of exploitation of marine sand and gravel reserves of Greenland (costs versus market prices). To arrive at an efficient supply chain a Marine Aggregate Dredger for dredging and screening is proposed, with Panamax-sized bulk carriers for transport to bulk aggregate terminals in Europe. There, a wholesaler produces end-products according to a variety of specifications of end-users. Within Europe, there are large regional differences in the way aggregates are produced and supplied. Supply is currently not critical in Europe, and is not expected to become critical in the next decade, even considering the expected increase in demand. Prices in Europe have remained quite constant in the last decades. The total costs for supply of sand and gravel from Greenland to a bulk terminal in Europe are estimated at a base rate which is significantly above the assessed 2021 market price in low-lying countries in Northwestern Europe. Export of aggregates from Greenland to these markets can only become competitive in the near future in case of an optimistic scenario of significant market price increases. In the period 2021-2025 the competitiveness has improved due to a slight increase in market prices.