The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has identified the winner of the competition for the development of the lithium deposit “Dobra Site” in the Kirovohrad region under the production sharing agreement (PSA) mechanism. This decision will allow the country to attract at least $179 million in investments, which will contribute to the development of the strategic minerals extraction industry.
This is reported by Business • Media
Key Investors and Fund Allocation
According to Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, out of the total investment amount, $12 million will be allocated for new geological exploration and an international audit of the deposit’s reserves. The remaining $167 million will be used for organizing the extraction and enrichment of lithium, provided that industrial reserves are confirmed. Under the terms of the PSA, Ukraine will initially receive financial revenues of about 13% of the total volume of extracted products, and later — 22%.
Competition Winner and International Support
The competition for the development of the site was won by Dobra Lithium Holdings JV, LLC, whose shareholders include internationally renowned companies Techmet and The Rock Holdings. Both entities have significant experience in the extraction of critical minerals. In particular, Techmet holds controlling or dominant minority stakes in ten assets across four continents and implements large-scale projects in the exploration, extraction, and processing of strategic minerals.
“The project will provide a boost for attracting more investors. The involvement of strategic investors from the USA and the European Union enhances international attention to Ukraine, brings in modern extraction and processing technologies, and creates additional security guarantees for our country,” the Prime Minister concluded.
It is known that the consortium that won the competition has close ties with the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, highlighting the strategic interest of Western partners in Ukrainian resources and investment opportunities in the lithium extraction sector.