Eclipse Metals Ltd has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Minerals, Materials and Society Program at the University of Delaware, USA as it looks to ensure regional sustainable development and diversification of the economy around its Ivigtût Project in Southwest Greenland.
The partnership will work collaboratively to research potential avenues for regional economic development of the Ivigtût project areas, which will be supported by funding from the US government’s National Science Foundation.
The aim is to create economic benefit within the local community.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with the University of Delaware on research to look at areas for potential economic redevelopment in Greenland,” Eclipse Metals executive chairman Carl Popal said.
“Our Ivigtût project, which has a historic mining life extending over 120 years, is a prime example of an opportunity for redevelopment and we hope this research will provide an insight into how we can do this to the benefit of Greenland and the local communities as well as Eclipse and our shareholders.”
Larger project redevelopment
The MoU fits into EPM’s larger project to redevelop legacy energy and mineral sites in the Arctic, for a just and sustainable transition that recognises greater access to the region due to changing climate.
The university will be provided with access to EPM’s project data and research. It will also be able to engage with stakeholders to discuss potential commercial development of all resources in the area.
It is hoped the outcome will provide a framework for Social Impact Assessment (SIA), a document that is submitted in stages to the Greenlandic mining authority (MLSA) as part of an application for a mining license.
Several research projects underway
Further to its work with the university, the scoping phase of the social and environmental impact assessments, conducted by Eclipse and Danish consultancy COWI, are now almost finished and will be submitted to the MLSA in the coming weeks.
“This collaboration with the University of Delaware is in addition to collaborative research programs that are already underway with the University of St Andrews, UK and the Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo, Norway, which is focused on rare earth elements and green technology metals,” Popal said.
“There is plenty of scope for development in Greenland and we are encouraged to see this renewed attention in the arctic region as we look towards expanding its potential for strategic mineral and economic development.”
Eclipse is busy at the moment, having recently completed its maiden percussion drilling and trench sampling program at Ivigtût. This includes the Grønnedal carbonatite complex, with laboratory results from this work expected during Q2, Pro Active Investors writes.
