Ukraine’s Critical Minerals Latest News
Recently, the U.S. and Ukraine signed a strategic minerals deal granting preferential U.S. access to Ukrainian mineral projects and establishing a joint investment fund for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
What are Critical Minerals and Rare Earths?
- Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are a group of 17 chemically similar metals essential for making permanent magnets used in electric vehicles (EVs), smartphones, missile systems, and wind turbines.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) lists 50 minerals as “critical”, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earths, due to their vital role in defence, aerospace, green energy, and electronics.
- These minerals have no commercially viable substitutes, making their supply chain strategically important.
Ukraine’s Mineral Wealth
- Ukraine has 22 of the 34 minerals classified as critical by the European Union (EU).
- Major critical minerals in Ukraine include:
- Rare earth elements such as lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, erbium, yttrium, and scandium.
- Lithium, nickel, manganese, beryllium, gallium, zirconium, graphite, apatite, fluorite, and titanium.
- Graphite reserves in Ukraine account for approximately 20% of global resources, crucial for EV batteries and nuclear reactors.
- Lithium reserves are estimated at 500,000 metric tonnes, one of the largest in Europe. Key lithium areas include the central, eastern, and southeastern regions.
- Titanium is concentrated in the northwestern and central regions and is used in the aerospace and defence sectors.
- China dominates global rare earth production, making Ukraine a strategically attractive alternative supplier for Western economies.
Source: TH
Ukraine’s Critical Minerals FAQs
Q1: What are Rare Earth Elements (REEs)?
Ans: Rare Earth Elements are a group of 17 chemically similar elements, including the 15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium, used extensively in high-tech and defence applications.
Q2: Why are REEs strategically important for India?
Ans: REEs are critical for national security, clean energy, and electronics manufacturing, making their supply crucial for India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat goals.
Q3: Which countries dominate REE production globally?
Ans: China is the largest producer and exporter of REEs, followed by countries like the USA, Australia, and Myanmar.
