Ukraine Moves Ahead with U.S. Critical Minerals Deal, Launches Bidding for Lithium Field
Ukraine has taken its first concrete step to implement a landmark critical minerals deal with the U.S., approving initial plans to open one of its largest lithium deposits to private investors.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to The New York Times.
On Monday, the Ukrainian government authorized the drafting of a framework to launch bidding for development rights to the Dobra lithium field, a major state-owned reserve located in central Ukraine.
The site is considered a vital asset due to its potential to supply lithium, a key component in electric vehicle batteries and other clean energy technologies.
Government officials familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the negotiations, confirmed that this is the first project advanced under the April 2025 U.S.-Ukraine minerals cooperation agreement signed in Washington.
Among the expected bidders is a consortium that includes TechMet, a U.S.-government-backed energy investment firm, and Ronald S. Lauder, a prominent American billionaire and close ally of President Donald Trump.
The group has reportedly shown longstanding interest in Ukraine’s mineral wealth and lobbied Kyiv to open up bidding since 2023.
Under the broader framework of the deal, half of Ukraine’s earnings from mineral extraction will be channeled into a joint U.S.-Ukraine investment fund, with revenues reinvested into Ukraine’s economy and part of the return going to the U.S. as a form of compensation for wartime aid.
While the drafting process is expected to take several weeks, Monday’s decision is widely viewed as a signal to the Trump administration that Ukraine is committed to making the agreement work.
“These are precisely the kinds of strategic initiatives where U.S.-Ukraine cooperation brings mutual benefit,” said Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s Minister of Economy.
In response, TechMet and other investors are advocating for Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) – long-term contracts that guarantee profit-sharing, international arbitration mechanisms, and stable tax terms. The Dobra lithium bidding process is expected to follow this PSA model.
“We are optimistic about Ukraine’s commitment to a transparent and competitive process,” said Brian Menell, TechMet’s CEO, in a recent statement.
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