Energy Transition Minerals adds political muscle to Greenland rare earth ambitions

• Energy Transition Minerals forms Advisory Board and adds two appointments  
• The board will support the company’s engagement with Greenlandic and Danish stakeholders 
• Further appointments to the board are expected shortly 

Special Report: Energy Transition Minerals is adding diplomatic weight to its rare earth development push in Greenland, appointing two Danish political figures to a newly formed Advisory Board. 

The company has brought on former Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeppe Kofod and former Danish Ambassador to the US Friis Arne Petersen to provide guidance as ETM advances its flagship Kvanefjeld rare earths project, one of the world’s largest undeveloped deposits of critical minerals. 

This new Advisory Board will help steer Energy Transition Minerals’ (ASX:ETM) engagement with Greenlandic and Danish stakeholders, ensuring that its approach to project development is transparent and aligned with international standards and local expectations.

It marks a clear signal of ETM’s intent to build a long-term, responsible presence in Greenland’s emerging critical-minerals sector. 

Expertise of appointments 

Kofod brings deep experience in foreign affairs, European policy and sustainable development, having served as Denmark’s Foreign Minister from 2019 to 2022, a Member of the European Parliament from 2014 to 2019, and a long-serving member of the Danish Parliament.

His background gives ETM valuable insight into the intersection of geopolitics, environmental diplomacy and energy transition policy – a combination highly relevant to the company’s Greenland ambitions.

Petersen’s appointment adds four decades of senior diplomatic experience across major global capitals. 

A former Permanent Secretary of State at Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he has served as Danish Ambassador to the US, China and Germany, countries central to the global rare earths supply chain. 

Together, Kofod and Petersen strengthen ETM’s ability to navigate the complex landscape of international relations, sustainability frameworks and local partnerships essential to advancing Kvanefjeld. 

Strong foundation to working in Greenland 

ETM managing director Daniel Mamadou said the company was honoured to welcome Kofod and Petersen to its Advisory Board. 

“Their combined diplomatic, political and strategic expertise provides ETM with a strong foundation for advancing our work in Greenland with transparency, responsibility, and regional alignment,” he said. 

“Our strategy to develop Kvanefjeld is gaining momentum in the case. 

“The recent decision by the Arbitral Tribunal regarding jurisdiction in the case aligns with the proposal ETM made back in the autumn of 2024 to the Danish and Greenlandic Governments. 

“Now the tribunal has taken the same direction, which of course has strengthened our confidence that we will achieve a positive outcome. We firmly believe that we have a strong case, which we will pursue,” he added. 

“The project has been unjustly put on hold, and therefore we are concerned with finding common ground with both Greenlandic and Danish politicians and authorities.” 

More appointments to come 

Further appointments to the Advisory Board, including expected representation from the US, is anticipated as ETM continues to expand its strategy for developing a globally significant source of rare earths from Greenland.

The Kvanefjeld rare earths project is at the heart of the company’s portfolio and represents the potential to become a cornerstone supply for Western markets. 

Kvanefjeld holds a contained resource of 11.1Mt of Rees and 593Mlb of uranium. 

REEs are valued for a range of applications including aerospace alloys and permanent magnets used in EV motors and wind turbines. 

They also have use in defence, which further enhances their value given China’s dominance of REE supply and processing, and recent export restrictions that have threatened to hamstring western market. 

This article was developed in collaboration with Energy Transition Minerals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.