Ukraine has announced the launch of a tender for the development of a major lithium deposit as part of efforts to expand its mineral resources sector and advance a strategic minerals agreement with the United States.
The Dobra Lithium Project
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed on Wednesday that the government had approved plans to open bidding for the Dobra site in central Ukraine, which is believed to hold significant reserves of lithium, a key battery metal.
“We expect an investor who will ensure not only extraction but also the development of value-added production in Ukraine,” Svyrydenko said in a statement.
Lithium, widely used in electric vehicle and energy storage batteries, is considered one of the most critical resources in global supply chains.
Dispute Over Mining Rights
The tender, however, is clouded by a legal dispute. Critical Metals, a Nasdaq-listed company, claims that through its ties with its largest shareholder European Lithium, it already holds rights to develop the site.
European Lithium told the Financial Times in July that it had been granted the Dobra license and that its ownership had been confirmed by Ukrainian courts. Board member Mykhailo Zhernov argued that the license was originally due to be awarded to Petro Consulting, acquired by European Lithium in 2024. Although Petro Consulting won a court ruling in 2023 instructing the government to issue the license, the award was never formally finalized.
“It is our license, it is our rights,” Zhernov said. “You cannot propose something for another investor before you finish with us.” He warned that such disputes risk undermining Ukraine’s investment climate, stressing that shifting licensing rules every few years discourages long-term commitments.
Neither Critical Metals nor European Lithium responded to fresh requests for comment.
US-Ukraine Minerals Deal
The tender is the first to be launched under a US natural resources agreement signed in May following months of negotiations. The deal is a central pillar of the Trump administration’s transactional approach to Ukraine, granting preferential treatment to US companies in bidding processes.
Under the agreement, a joint fund will be created to finance projects in minerals, oil, and gas, with profits reinvested in Ukraine. Additionally, American military aid — including weapons — will be counted as a US contribution to the arrangement.
US-backed mining firm TechMet has already expressed interest. Chief executive Brian Menell confirmed the company would participate in the bidding once the tender officially opens.
Strategic Importance of Lithium
The global rush to secure lithium supplies has intensified as western nations seek to reduce dependence on China, which dominates global processing of the mineral. This push has been reinforced by recent US tariffs on metals, introduced by President Trump, to promote alternative supply chains.
Ukraine’s move to accelerate development of its lithium resources is both an attempt to attract investment during wartime and a step toward positioning itself as a future supplier of strategic raw materials to western partners.
