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July 2008
As studies into the feasibility of broadening and strengthening the modern Greenlandic economy through the introduction of an aluminum industry continue, a historic and abandoned fishing and hunting camp has been found.
While performing surveys for future bore-hole drilling at the southern hydro site, the Greenland National Museum found the remains of a fishing and reindeer/caribou camp. Alcoa moved the drilling site for the borings slightly to avoid the area and flagged the camp as a "do not disturb" site on its mapping. The museum will be conducting a study of the area in August 2008, and the results of that study will be made available once completed in early 2009.
May 2008
Greenland parliament decided to advance into a second phase of joint studies with Alcoa into the feasibility of establishing a world-class sustainable aluminum industry in Greenland.
The parliament strongly endorsed Greenland Home Rule government's recommendation that the proposed 340,000 metric-ton-per-year smelter should be sited at Maniitsoq and allocated significant funding to support the joint studies. These studies, which will extend through 2009, will delve in detail into the economic, social, and environmental aspects of the proposed facility. The parliament is expected to convene again in 2009 to consider Greenland's ownership position in this project.
January 2008
Based upon studies completed to date, the Greenland Home Rule has drafted a preliminary strategic environmental assessment (SEA) report for the smelter project that is available for public review.
The studies performed to date contribute to the overall environmental assessment of the proposed project. These will be supplemented by additional regional assessments and archaeological surveys, which will be conducted in 2008 and 2009. Once specific sites have been identified for the proposed smelter, hydro, and transmission facilities, site-specific and detailed environmental, social, and health impact assessments will be conducted. Combined, these studies will form the basis for the project's necessary approvals by the appropriate authorities.
Download the SEA  go
September 2007
Since the beginning of the northern summer, Alcoa has performed several hydrology studies in western Greenland to help determine the capacity of the river systems to support development of the company's proposed aluminum smelter.
The studies also will yield insight into what would be required to construct the individual hydropower plants that would form an integrated system to supply energy to the proposed smelter. All smelter sites currently under consideration in the three municipalities will require connection to multiple hydropower sources.
International hydrology experts, including PB Power, and Greenlandic companies Asiaq and Inuit Service are assisting in the effort.
Initial results are encouraging, and final calculations and planning will begin once fieldwork is completed at the end of the month. Once the sites that could work have been identified, they will be subjected to a thorough and public environmental assessment process.
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