Ukraine has officially launched a competition for the conclusion of a production sharing agreement regarding the development of the lithium deposit ‘Dobra’. Both domestic and international companies, associations of legal entities, and private investors with sufficient financial and technical capabilities, as well as experience in the extraction and enrichment of minerals, are eligible to participate in the selection process.
This is reported by Finway
Competition Conditions and Participant Requirements
Companies and residents from aggressor countries, as well as jurisdictions under international sanctions, are not permitted to participate in the competition. Candidates who violate existing obligations of subsoil users will also be disqualified. The winner of the competition will sign a 50-year agreement with the state and commit to investing at least $179 million. The funds must be directed towards financing geological exploration, launching extraction, and enriching lithium.
Social and Environmental Standards
The agreement stipulates strict adherence to environmental standards, a preference for the use of Ukrainian goods and labor, as well as investments in the development of local communities. The launch of the competition is seen as a key step in the development of the national mineral resource complex and the integration of Ukraine into global supply chains for critical minerals.
The conduct of the competition for the lithium deposit ‘Dobra’ under the production sharing mechanism has become the first pilot project for solid minerals and demonstrates Ukraine’s readiness to open the market for strategic raw materials to investors, emphasized the Ministry of Economy.