Ukraine
Critical minerals, policy, and the energy transition
The Energy Transition in Ukraine
Ukraine’s energy transition is unfolding at a moment of profound national transformation. As the country emerges from the devastation of full-scale war, it is actively redefining its energy system, pivoting from inherited Soviet infrastructure to a cleaner, more resilient, and globally integrated model. At the centre of this transition is Ukraine’s remarkable endowment of critical minerals, which are increasingly recognised as strategic assets in the global race for clean energy leadership. The signing of the landmark United States–Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund in April 2025 has reshaped the landscape for investment and recovery. By establishing a joint investment fund, the agreement unlocks U.S. capital and technology to accelerate development in critical sectors, particularly titanium, lithium, rare earth elements, and uranium. This partnership not only supports Ukraine’s economic revival but also positions the country as a reliable supplier to transatlantic clean energy and defence supply chains. Ukraine’s energy and mineral policy is now reoriented around ESG-aligned frameworks, deeper European Union integration, and long-term economic resilience. From nuclear power modernisation and renewables expansion to strategic mineral processing and circular economy initiatives, the transformation is ambitious and urgent. With rich resource potential and growing international alignment, Ukraine is poised to become a vital player in the future of global energy.
Latest news and insights
Stay ahead in the energy transition with SFA (Oxford)’s cutting-edge insights into how Ukraine’s titanium, lithium, and rare earth reserves, paired with post-war ESG frameworks, are reshaping its future in European critical mineral and clean energy markets.
U.S. and Ukraine Finalise Critical Minerals Deal
1 May 2025 | Jamie Underwood
On April 30, 2025, the United States and Ukraine signed a landmark agreement establishing a joint Reconstruction Investment Fund to support Ukraine's post-war recovery.
Ukraine's international economic, trade, and security alliances
Ukraine's energy and power mix
Ukraine’s energy and power mix reflects its industrial heritage and urgent need for modernisation amid ongoing conflict. Nuclear power remains the backbone of electricity production, supplying around 50% of domestic demand, supplemented by substantial reserves of natural gas and coal, critical to energy security and industrial activity. In recent years, Ukraine has made meaningful progress in expanding its solar and hydropower capacity, while its wind and bioenergy potential, particularly in agricultural regions, remains mainly untapped but promising.
The war has inflicted severe damage on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, with repeated attacks on power plants, substations, and transmission lines causing widespread blackouts and supply disruptions. Notably, nuclear power plants, including the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station, Europe’s largest—have come under direct attack and occupation, raising grave concerns over nuclear safety and regional security. Ukraine’s energy infrastructure also faces sustained cyber threats and hybrid attacks, further exposing its vulnerabilities.
To mitigate immediate crises, portable diesel and gasoline generators have become essential for maintaining critical services during outages. International partners, including the EU, USAID, and the IAEA, have provided vital assistance, both in emergency energy supplies and technical support to bolster nuclear safety and grid resilience.
Looking ahead, Ukraine’s long-term strategy centres on reducing its historical dependency on Russian energy imports by accelerating domestic production, investing in modern, resilient energy infrastructure, and deepening integration with European Union energy networks. Restoring, securing, and diversifying Ukraine’s energy system is essential for its national recovery and alignment with EU climate and energy goals.
Critical Minerals deposits and occurrences in Ukraine
Ukraine hosts a diverse and extensive array of critical mineral deposits, many essential to clean energy technologies, defence applications, and industrial production. Its geology is particularly rich in light rare earth elements (LREEs), titanium, lithium, graphite, and uranium, with additional occurrences of strategic materials such as cobalt, nickel, scandium, and vanadium. These resources are distributed across key regions, including the Dnipro-Donetsk basin, the Carpathian region, and the Ukrainian Shield, offering significant potential for extraction and processing. However, access to certain high-value deposits, especially in the east and south of the country, remains constrained by ongoing conflict and occupation. Leveraging these mineral assets effectively will be critical to Ukraine’s economic recovery and strengthening Western supply chains amid rising global demand for critical raw materials.
Join us at SFA (Oxford)'s Critical Minerals events
Join us in person or online from Ukraine for SFA (Oxford)’s latest Critical Minerals events, focused on the key materials driving the energy transition and low-carbon technologies. Connect with global leaders, government, investors, miners, end users, and key players across the supply chain and recycling sector, and stay ahead of the trends shaping the battery metals and PGM markets. Register today to secure your place.
Derived and processed Critical Minerals products and recycling in Ukraine
Energy Raw Materials and products produced in Ukraine
Essential minerals production and products in Ukraine
Meet the Critical Minerals team
Trusted advice from a dedicated team of experts.
Henk de Hoop
Chief Executive Officer
Beresford Clarke
Managing Director: Technical & Research
Jamie Underwood
Principal Consultant
Ismet Soyocak
ESG & Critical Minerals Lead
Rj Coetzee
Senior Market Analyst: Battery Materials and Technologies
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