Look east for trade
Greenland's Nuna Oil may set up resource company

by Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Apr 27/98) - After the GNWT trade mission to Greenland, expect more business between the two jurisdictions.

"Qikiqtaaluk Corporation of the Baffin region and Nuna Oil of Greenland are considering pooling some of their interests to create a new junior mineral exploration company," NWT Chamber of Commerce vice-president Alain Carriere said.

A joint-venture could be beneficial to the NWT and Greenland because both jurisdictions share similar geology.

Up until about 200 million years ago, Greenland was connected to North America. Most of central and western Greenland broke from the east coast of Baffin Island, said DIAND Keewatin and Baffin Island district geologist Jason Sharp said.

Southern Greenland and northern Labrador -- site of the Voisey Bay nickel deposit -- have similar geology.

Sharp also said theories that have been applied in one jurisdiction might assist or be applied on the other jurisdiction.

Another development might come from sharing geological data. Presumably both jurisdictions are developing databases independently.

Still another similarity is the presence of kimberlite. Greenland has kimberlite dykes and several Canadian junior mining companies are actively exploring for diamonds in Greenland.

Carriere, chairing the trade mission, added that representatives of the Northern construction sector met with Nuuk's town planning and land departments as well as government to advance construction opportunities.

"This looks very promising for the NWT."

Qikiqtaaluk Corporation president Jerry Ell and Mike Hine, also with QC, are among the dozen Northern trade mission participants.

To promote closer ties, GNWT Premier Don Morin and Greenland leader Jonathan Motzfeldt signed a statement of co-operation during the trade mission.

The move will mean stronger economic ties between the GNWT and the Greenland Home Rule Government.

"This statement of intent is an important step towards a stronger trade relationship with Greenland," Morin said.

"The business community in the NWT has expertise and knowledge that is well-suited to the needs of Greenland."

The agreement, signed in Nuuk, outlines the two government's intent to develop a memorandum of understanding which would detail future relationships between the NWT and Greenland.

The memorandum of understanding will cover co-operation in areas like oil and gas exploration and development, construction, housing, communications and tourism.

Other areas expected to be covered in the memorandum are transportation, business services, wildlife co-management, education and culture.

The trade mission, which included 12 Northerners, wrapped up last week.

Others attending the trade mission were Malachi Arreak with Nunavut Tusauvut, Jens Steenberg of Steenberg Construction, Jacques Belleau with Frobuild Construction and NTCL's Gerald Dunphy.

Geoff Ryan with the Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts and Crafts, Kevin Diebold of Whiponic, Cam Marianayagam with Camillus Engineering and CMHC's John Soderberg also attended.

GNWT officials participating were Trade and Investment director Otto Olah, Deputy Transportation Minister Ron Williams, executive assistant to the Premier Delilah St. Arneault and John Stephenson with Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.

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