On 10 June, Robert Price, a snowy-haired American in his 60s, addressed residents of Ittoqqortoormiit, a remote Greenland hamlet of 300 people. Representing Texas oil company Greenland Energy, he announced plans to drill for oil in Jameson Land, backed by figures linked to Donald Trump. Price claimed the company holds permits to place equipment on the land and has filed permits pending approval to drill.
Permit Dispute with Greenland Government
Greenland’s resources ministry flatly denied Price’s claims, stating there are “no actually active permissions for any exploration activity or permissions for preparations for these activities.” This dispute threatens a showdown between Greenland Energy’s Trump-linked backers and local authorities. Trump’s special envoy to Greenland, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, visited in May and declared on Fox News: “We need a deal. Greenland needs a deal. We could be – Greenland could be – exporting 2m barrels of oil a day right now.” Landry, who aims to “make Greenland a part of the US,” claimed production could begin within 10 months.
Drilling Plans and Logistics
Greenland Energy appears to be the only company planning to drill in the territory. It has chartered an Arctic-going vessel to ferry 300 shipping containers of drilling kit 4,000 km through icy waters to Greenland’s eastern coast. Price said the vessel would depart on 12 September, with drilling starting in October. Halliburton, the Houston-based contractor once led by former Vice President Dick Cheney, will manage logistics. The company has put up $60 million to drill two wells in exchange for a majority stake in the project, using licences owned by UK-registered company 80 Mile.
Environmental and Political Concerns
The planned wells are in an area protected by the global Ramsar Convention to preserve wetlands, hosting barnacle geese, pink-footed geese, whimbrel, golden plover, Sabine’s gull, snowy owl, and muskoxen. David Boertmann, a bird expert, warned that oil exploration could threaten these habitats. Greenland stopped issuing oil exploration licences in 2021, citing environmental risks. However, some licences from 80 Mile remain valid. Greenland Energy’s stock market filings note that drilling requires government permission, which may be reluctant. Minister for Mineral Resources Múte B Egede said he “understand[s] if citizens are concerned” about Trump connections and added: “Activities cannot be carried out until the necessary permits have been granted.”
Trump Connections and Shareholder Hopes
Greenland Energy’s backers include Kenneth Griffin, a Republican mega-donor who bought 9% of shares, and Carol Craig, founder of Sidus Space, which works on Trump’s Golden Dome missile defence system. Dr Phil McGraw, through Envoy Media, is producing a documentary series about the company. On a Telegram group, shareholders discuss a potential “Trump pump” – a presidential plug that could boost stock prices before any oil is drilled. Larry Swets, executive chair, acknowledged: “Our enthusiasm for the project led us to communicate in a way that created confusion about who is responsible for what in Greenland.”
