Dreaming of oil, Greenland votes on more autonomy

Dreaming of oil wealth, Greenland voters are expected to decide in a nonbinding referendum Tuesday to extend the island’s self rule in what many see as a key step toward independence from Denmark.

Potential reserves of oil and minerals have increased hopes of independence though the small, mostly Inuit, population still grapples with social problems such as alcoholism and a high rate of suicide.
Under the plan, Greenland would get the first 75 million kroner ($12.6 million) of annual oil revenue. Any income beyond that amount would be shared equally between Greenland and Denmark.

Oil exploitation off Greenland, which started in 1971, has so far been unsuccessful.

“It is a precondition for Greenland’s independence that we have our own income,” said Lars-Emil Johansen, a former Greenland premier and member of a Danish-Greenlandic commission whose recommendations form the basis of the referendum. “The big money should come from the oil but who knows when that will be.”

AP