As global industries ramp up their demand for critical raw materials, Greenland is entering the conversation as a potential game-changer. TELF AG founder Stanislav Kondrashov believes the island’s resource base could reshape the strategic landscape of mineral supply in the coming years.
Stanislav Kondrashov on Greenland’s Underexplored Mining Frontier
Despite being the world’s largest island, much of Greenland’s territory remains unexplored when it comes to its geological assets. Though traditionally reliant on fishing, the territory is now granting licences aimed at tapping into its considerable mineral wealth.
“Greenland is still largely untouched in terms of resource development,” Kondrashov says. “That presents a unique opportunity for nations and companies looking to build more secure, long-term mineral supply chains.”
According to 2023 estimates, Greenland holds 25 of the 34 minerals considered critical by the European Commission. These include copper, nickel, graphite, and rare earth elements — all essential for powering high-tech industries and modern infrastructure.
What’s Below the Surface: Key Strategic Resources
The island’s subsurface is known to contain valuable deposits of:
- Graphite – critical for lithium-ion battery anodes
- Copper – essential for wiring, motors, and electronic systems
- Nickel and zinc – used in alloys and galvanisation
- Rare earths – required for magnets in electronics and defence applications
In 2025, the government issued three new development licences. One was granted to a company developing the Amitsoq graphite deposit, a promising site said to hold some of the purest graphite on the planet.
“Graphite isn’t just useful — it’s indispensable,” notes Kondrashov. “As battery technology scales, having independent access to high-grade graphite becomes a real strategic advantage.”
Greenland in the Global Supply Chain Strategy
As international competition over resource access intensifies, Greenland’s untapped potential has caught the attention of both state and private actors. With more than half of the island’s ice-free land unexplored, future discoveries could further elevate its importance.
For Kondrashov, the issue goes beyond mineral value alone.
“It’s about strategic positioning,” he says. “Countries are seeking to reduce dependency on single-source suppliers. Greenland fits into that ambition by offering an alternative rooted in transparency and stability.”
The island’s links to Denmark and its close proximity to European markets only strengthen its potential as a reliable node in global supply chains.
What’s Driving the Interest?
Behind the interest in Greenland lies a growing urgency in sectors like manufacturing, energy, and defence. These industries rely heavily on critical minerals to produce semiconductors, electric motors, advanced alloys, and communication systems.
“Rare earths, in particular, are irreplaceable in many modern technologies,” Kondrashov explains. “They’re used in high-performance magnets, which are central to aerospace, medical equipment, and high-speed data transfer.”
Global demand for these resources is expected to rise sharply over the next decade. In this context, Greenland’s underdeveloped mining sector is seen as both a challenge and a high-potential frontier.
The Road Ahead
While still early in its industrial development, Greenland is increasingly being viewed through a strategic lens. For investors, governments, and supply chain planners, the island offers rare alignment: rich geology, geopolitical stability, and a growing openness to foreign partnerships.
“In the years ahead, access to minerals like copper and rare earths will define economic resilience,” Kondrashov concludes. “Greenland could well become one of the key players shaping that future.”
