Greenland’s government has paused planned U.S.-linked oil drilling in East Greenland, saying the necessary approvals cannot be completed in time for the winter 2026/2027 season.
Naalakkersuisut, the government of Greenland, stated on August 12, 2026 that planned drilling activities cannot be carried out in the winter of 2026/2027. DR reports that the decision also covers preparatory activities at the site.
The project centers on the Jameson area near Ittoqqortoormiit in East Greenland. It is run by the company 80 Mile together with its American financing partner, Greenland Energy Company. According to DR, the pause follows a meeting between Greenland’s Department of Business and Mineral Resources and White Flame Energy A/S, which holds the exploration licence.
At that meeting, the department voiced concern about the very tight timetable, per the government’s press release. Rod McIllree, chief executive of 80 Mile, said the company is disappointed but remains fully committed to developing the project. The Greenlandic outlets Sermitsiaq and KNR report that the companies cannot obtain drilling permission before next year at the earliest.
Greenland halted all new permits for oil exploration and drilling in 2021. A handful of older licences remain valid, and this project relies on one of them. That background was previously described by KNR and the Danish outlet Danwatch, according to DR.
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Even with the licence, the companies still need several specific permits from the authorities. DR notes that Greenland Energy’s share price fell after the announcement. The exact date when an approval could be ready remains unclear.
Equipment landed before approval
Drilling equipment was brought ashore in the area only weeks ago, with the aim of starting exploration in October 2026. That happened without the required approval from the authorities. Shortly afterwards, the self-rule government issued a strong warning to 80 Mile and demanded that all future logistics be pre-approved.
The government has also launched a website where the public can follow the case. The drilling plans led residents to protest in the streets of several Greenlandic towns in July 2026, including in the capital, Nuuk.
Greenland Energy, which is both financing partner and operationally involved, has hired several figures with ties to U.S. President Donald Trump. A plan for the Trump-allied television personality Dr. Phil to help promote the project was abandoned in July 2026. Danwatch reported earlier this summer that Carol Craig had joined the company’s executive management.
Craig is chief executive of two American defense companies with multimillion-dollar contracts with the U.S. military and the Pentagon, according to Danwatch. Jeff Landry, Trump’s special envoy to Greenland, said recently that he expects oil to be extracted from the Greenlandic subsurface as early as next year.
