Drilling begins at Killavaat Alannguat rare earths project in South Greenland

Fieldwork is underway at the Killavaat Alannguat rare earths deposit in South Greenland, known internationally as the Tanbreez project, where Australian-American company Critical Metals Corp. has begun a drilling programme aimed at firming up the size of the resource, Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq reported on Tuesday.

The deposit, also known as Kringlerne, sits near Qaqortoq and is held under an exploitation licence by Tanbreez Mining Greenland. Naalakkersuisut approved an indirect transfer of that licence in April, moving control from Australian company Rimbal Pty Ltd, owned by geologist Greg Barnes, to Critical Metals Corp., whose chairman is Australian businessman Tony Sage.

Greenland’s Ministry of Mineral Resources confirmed to Sermitsiaq that it has permitted a range of activities at the site for 2026, including a camp from which the company can run a drilling programme focused on resource delineation and upgrading the resource classification.

All drill cores and sample material will be cut and processed in Qaqortoq, which the ministry described as the project’s primary service centre. The ministry said the majority of the workforce is expected to be hired locally in Qaqortoq by main contractor 60° North Greenland ApS.

Critical Metals Corp. acquired 70 percent of 60° North Greenland in May. Malik Vahl Rasmussen remains managing director of the contracting firm, which said at the time that the arrangement strengthened its position for further growth in exploration services, mine development and future mining operations at the licence area.

The company also appointed Thomas “Tyt” Mogensen, previously director of Nalik Ventures A/S, as director of Tanbreez Mining Greenland in April. Mogensen told Sermitsiaq the company is in full swing with fieldwork in the area.

“Mogensen’s extensive experience with Greenlandic business, combined with his proven ability to deliver strong financial and operational results, makes him the ideal leader to steer Tanbreez through the development phase of our world-class rare earths project,” Sage said when the appointment was announced.

Killavaat Alannguat is one of the largest identified rare earth deposits in Greenland and has drawn attention from Washington as the United States looks to secure supplies of critical minerals outside China.