Materialising a Mining Project: Past, Present, and Alternative Energy Futures through the Lens of Kvanefjeld

核能生产作为能源系统脱碳的一种选择，重新引起了人们的兴趣。这一发展要求世界铀供应在产量放缓的情况下增加。预期的需求增长将需要新的铀矿床的位置，因此格陵兰的矿业公司越来越感兴趣。格陵兰正处于其工业史上的一个转折点。2013年，长达25年的铀矿开采禁令被推翻。给出的理由是愿意发展经济并从丹麦获得更多的独立。就该决定对环境和土著因纽特社区的影响展开了全国性的辩论。长时间的禁令意味着格陵兰没有国有矿业公司，几乎没有监管。因此，外国公司正在承接这项工作，中国和澳大利亚的公司也提交了提案。澳大利亚公司Gmel计划在克纳夫杰尔德开发世界上最大的铀矿之一，并已完成了主要的“影响评估”。澳大利亚的矿业传统使他们的参与变得有趣，因为该国声称有大量的监管机构来监控做法和潜在影响。然而，澳大利亚境内的采矿仍然存在问题。案例研究表明，该行业往往未能让当地社区参与进来。当地人几乎没有工作或技能，这导致了移民以及文化和土地的丧失。格陵兰拥有原始的环境和独特的因纽特人社区：澳大利亚公司的到来因此引发了重要的问题。铀工业在社会学文献中几乎没有受到关注。赫克特研究了非洲的铀矿开采，并质疑了采矿国和核国家之间的关系。因此，对技术和社会的联合生产进行新的研究是必不可少的。我建议分析核社会技术系统是如何配置的，并探讨创新如何挑战关系，或许还会推动变革。我开发的理论框架将使我能够在实证案例和对开采、工业化和‘核化’的更广泛关注之间切换。其中一组研究将分析GMEL编制的环境和社会影响评估，并于2015年提交给格陵兰政府。我会问，‘环境’和‘社会’关切的哪些方面得到了解决，以及如何得到解决。将特别关注美学、污染和生物多样性等问题的处理。第二部分的研究将探索在特定的社会背景下，行为者如何处理提取问题。在建议的为期一个月的海外实地考察期间，我将采访来自政府、行业、非政府组织和社区的利益相关者。

Nuclear energy production has received renewed interest as an option to decarbonise energy systems. This development requires the world supply of uranium to increase at a time when production is slowing. The expected increase in demand will require the location of new uranium deposits, hence the growing interest from mining companies in Greenland.Greenland is at a turning point in its industrial history. In 2013, a 25-year ban on uranium mining was overturned. Reasons given were a willingness to develop economically and to increase independence from Denmark. A national debate emerged over the impacts of the decision on the environment and indigenous Inuit communities. The long ban means that Greenland does not have national mining companies and has little regulation. Consequently, foreign companies are taking the work and Chinese and Australian companies have submitted proposals. Australian company GMEL plans to develop one of the largest uranium mines in the world in Knavefjeld, and has already completed major 'impact assessments'. Australia's mining heritage makes their involvement interesting as the country claims substantial regulatory apparatus to monitor practices and potential impacts. However, mining within Australia remains problematic. Case studies show that industry often fails to engage local communities. Few jobs or skills are available to locals, leading to migration and loss of culture and land. Greenland holds pristine environments and unique Inuit communities: the arrival of an Australian company thus raises important questions.The uranium industry has received little attention in sociological literature. Hecht studied uranium mining in Africa and queried the relations between mined countries and nuclear nations. Novel research on the co-production of technology and society is thus essential. I propose to analyse how the nuclear socio-technical system is configured and explore how innovations may challenge relations and perhaps drive change. The theoretical framework I develop will allow me to move between the empirical case and wider concerns on extraction, industrialisation and 'nuclearity'.One strand of research will analyse the environmental and social impact assessments produced by GMEL and submitted to the Greenlandic government in 2015. I will question what aspects of 'environmental' and 'social' concerns were addressed and how. Particular attention will be paid to the treatment of issues such as aesthetics, pollution and biodiversity. A second strand of research will explore how actors approach extraction in the particular social context. I will interview stakeholders from government, industry, NGOs, and community during a suggested one-month overseas fieldwork.