This is reported by Kyiv24
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has announced the winner of the tender for the development of the ‘Dobra’ lithium deposit located in the Kirovohrad region. The selection was conducted under a production sharing agreement (PSA). As reported by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, the right to develop the deposit has been granted to Dobra Lithium Holdings JV, LLC, whose shareholders include Techmet and The Rock Holdings.
Investments and Strategic Importance of the Project
According to Svyrydenko, Techmet has significant experience in the extraction of critically important minerals and holds controlling or dominant minority stakes in ten assets across four continents. Its large-scale projects in exploration, extraction, and processing of minerals confirm its expertise in the field.
The minimum investment amount to be attracted for the development of the ‘Dobra’ deposit will be 179 million US dollars. Of this amount, 12 million will be allocated for new geological exploration and international audit of reserves, while another 167 million will be directed towards organizing extraction and enrichment, contingent upon the confirmation of industrial reserves.
“The project will provide a boost for attracting more investors. The ‘Dobra’ site is just the first step in an ambitious plan to integrate Ukraine into the supply chains of our strategic partners. Therefore, work in this direction continues. The PSA mechanism allows investors to extract minerals within the framework of a partnership established with the state. At the same time, the deposit remains the property of the people of Ukraine,” emphasized the Prime Minister.
International Cooperation and Investment Appeal
Attracting strategic investors from the United States and the European Union enhances international interest in Ukraine, promotes the implementation of modern extraction and processing technologies, and creates additional security guarantees for the country. Svyrydenko highlighted that this project opens unprecedented opportunities for Ukraine’s integration into the global lithium industry alongside stable American partners.
It was previously reported that Ukraine granted the right to extract lithium from a large state deposit in the Kirovohrad region to American investors, including billionaire Ronald Lauder, a well-known sponsor of the Republican Party and heir to the Estee Lauder cosmetics empire. According to Forbes, in May 2025, Lauder’s wealth was estimated at 4.7 billion dollars, placing him at 796th on the list of the world’s richest people. He has known Donald Trump since their university years.
The Irish company TechMet, one of the key shareholders of Dobra Lithium Holdings JV, is under the control of the American government investment agency DFC, established during Donald Trump’s first presidential term.
Lithium is a critical element for the production of electric batteries and computer boards. The Trump administration is particularly interested in lithium and other rare earth metals extraction worldwide to reduce the United States’ dependence on supplies from China.
In May 2025, the governments of the United States and Ukraine signed an agreement on cooperation in the development of rare earth metals on Ukrainian territory. Donald Trump noted at the time that the U.S. “theoretically stands to gain much more than the 350 billion dollars” allocated to Ukraine as military aid.