Ukraine launches tender for lithium deposit in Kirovohrad region
Photo: Press service of the Office of the President

On Wednesday, August 27, the Cabinet of Ministers announced plans to launch a tender for a production sharing agreement (PSA) on solid minerals at the Dobra lithium deposit in the Kirovohrad region, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said.

"We have made an important decision for the development of the mineral resources sector and for attracting investment to Ukraine. We are launching a tender for a PSA in the Kirovohrad region. The site contains significant lithium reserves, which are of strategic importance for energy and technology," the Prime Minister said following an extraordinary meeting.

The Dobra deposit is located in Novoukrainskyi district of the Kirovohrad region, covering 1,706.9 hectares near the villages of Novostankuvata and Ternove.

Ukraine launches tender for lithium deposit in Kirovohrad region
Source: State Geological Survey

The main resource is lithium ore, with associated minerals including tantalum, niobium, rubidium, beryllium, tin, cesium, tungsten, and gold. The deposit comprises two main ore-bearing pegmatite zones: Stankuvatska and Nadiya.

Until recently, information on proven lithium reserves was limited and had not been publicly disclosed. The inferred resources (P1+P2) are estimated at over 1.2 million tons. In addition to lithium, the ore may contain other valuable metals: tantalum (prospective and inferred reserves – 4,700 tons), niobium (8,200 tons), rubidium (104,000 tons), beryllium (22,000 tons), tin (4,400 tons), and cesium (8,000 tons).

According to Svyrydenko, the government is seeking an investor who will ensure not only lithium mining but also the development of value-added production directly in Ukraine.

The next steps include publishing the tender notice within two months, followed by accepting applications and selecting a winner within three months.

Svyrydenko previously noted that this project could become the debut case for the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, established under the minerals cooperation agreement.

Lithium, often referred to as a critical raw material, is widely used in batteries for smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles, as well as in the chemical, medical, aerospace, nuclear, and renewable energy industries.

A production sharing agreement (PSA) is a contract in which an investor carries out prospecting, exploration, and extraction of minerals in a designated subsoil area. The investor undertakes this work at its own expense and risk, with subsequent reimbursement of costs and compensation in the form of a share of the extracted minerals.

  • In February 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine designated 26 strategic subsoil sites to attract investors. The Dobra deposit was included in this list.