Greenland’s Department of Minerals and Raw Materials has granted 17 new exploratory licenses in 2020, and that represents an increase compared to former years, Sermitsiaq reports.

There are currently 72 active exploration licenses in Greenland. In addition, seven extraction licenses as well as 11 prospect licenses have been awarded.

Most of the new licenses are in the Disko Bay area and southern Greenland, though East Greenland also holds a few.