According to recent geological exploration data, lithium reserves at the Polokhivske deposit (Kirovohrad region) exceed 760 thousand tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (760 LCE kt), and Ukraine has significant potential for its extraction, said Ksenia Orynchak, Executive Director of the National Association of Extractive Industries of Ukraine (NADPU), in a commentary to Interfax-Ukraine.
“According to the latest geological exploration data for the Polokhivske deposit, the reserves exceed 760 thousand tons of lithium carbonate equivalent,” she said.
According to her, this deposit, which belongs to Ukrlithium mining, is one of the largest in Europe.
Orynchak reminded that there are four explored lithium deposits in Ukraine. Polokhivske is the only explored one where the owner holds a mining license. The others are Dobra (also in Kirovohrad region), Shevchenkivske (Donetsk region) and Kruta Balka (Zaporizhzhia region), the latter two located in the temporarily occupied territories.
“It is a fact that Ukraine has significant lithium mining potential. According to reputable studies, we are among the top three countries in terms of reserves, along with the Czech Republic and Serbia. (…) Ukraine is very favorably located geopolitically for the European Union,” the NAPRU head said.
Orynchak also disagreed with the opinion of Yegor Perelygin, Chairman of the Board of UMCC-Titanium – United Mining and Chemical Company JSC, who recently criticized the prospects for the development of Ukrainian lithium deposits due to low world prices for lithium, its surplus, high production and processing costs, and the need for significant investment in the face of high risks in Ukraine.
Earlier, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine estimated that the country has about 500 thousand tons of lithium.
