Europe / Caspian / CIS
Country profile: Greenland
Location: | Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada. Note: land: 2,166,086 sq km (410,449 sq km ice-free, 1,755,637 sq km ice-covered) (2000 est.) |
Climate: | arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters |
Terrain: | flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast |
Size: | 2166086 sq. km total (Land area: 2166086 sq. km ) |
Population: | 56,326 (July 2008 est.) |
Languages: | Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English |
Government: | parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy |
Capital city: | Nuuk (Godthab) |
Legal system: | the laws of Denmark, where applicable, apply |
Currency: | Danish krone (DKK) |
Licensing: |
Country profile
Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 81% ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland was made an integral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973, but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute centered on stringent fishing quotas.
Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament; the law went into effect the following year. Denmark continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs in consultation with Greenland's Home Rule Government.
Energy production and consumption
Oil | Gas | |
Production: | ||
Consumption: | 3,880 bbl/day (2005 est.) | |
Exports: | 149 bbl/day (2005 est.) | |
Imports: | 4,013 bbl/day (2005 est.) | |
Reserves: | ||
Major fields: |
Greenland - recent news
19 Jul 21 |
Greenland halts new oil exploration Greenland has decided to cease issuing new licenses for oil and gas exploration and will focus its business on sustainable potentials. |
20 Mar 19 |
Greenland: Greenland Gas & Oil announces new licence award and operations update Greenland Gas & Oil has confirmed the award of a new licence and extension of existing licences, as well as provided details of upcoming operational activities on its Jameson Land acreage located onshore south-east Greenland. The Company will commence detailed planning for a drilling programme commencing in the fall of 2020. |
31 Oct 18 |
Greenland says China oil majors eyeing Arctic island's onshore blocks China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) and China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) have expressed interest in bidding for onshore oil and gas blocks in Greenland to be offered in 2021, officials from the island said on Tuesday. |
Greenland - more news
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