Participants in an online working meeting discussed an action plan for preparing projects on the development of critical raw materials. The Director General of the Ukrainian Geological Survey (UGS) Oleh Hotsynets, took part in a working meeting with representatives of the Government of France and the French Geological Survey (BRGM), held under the chairmanship of the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, Svitlana Hrynchuk. The participants discussed the involvement of expert assistance in preparing subsoil areas with deposits of critical raw materials for tenders or auctions, as well as the positive experience of cooperation between the geological services of both countries.
Oleh Hotsynets noted that Ukraine is engaging international experts to attract investors and ensure fair competition in auctions and production-sharing agreement tenders for the development of critical raw materials’ deposits. He emphasized that French experts would share their experience in preparing such sites, particularly in selecting geological data and developing 3D geological and deposit models. He also highlighted the long-standing and productive cooperation between Ukraine and France in the field of geology and expressed gratitude to France for its military and economic support and continued assistance.
The cooperation envisages expert support, technology exchange, and project preparation aimed at increasing the extraction of strategic resources. These include lithium, cobalt, tantalum, and other metals essential for the development of high-tech industries. France has significant experience in this field and can help Ukraine strengthen its resource independence, reduce reliance on imports, and enhance its position in international markets.
The French side expressed interest in holding a webinar for extractive companies at which Ukraine would present opportunities for cooperation in the exploration and development of subsoil areas containing critical mineral deposits.
The UGS maintains close cooperation with the BRGM. In particular, the Geoinform of Ukraine is a contractor for BRGM under the European project GR4FITE3, in which the French side is responsible for implementing 3D geological modeling of the Zavallivskyi graphite deposit.