Following the evaluation, Dobra Lithium Holdings JV was declared the winner, having scored 93 points, whilst its competitor, European Lithium Ukraine LLC, scored 37 points.
Dobra Lithium received a higher rating thanks to its more comprehensive geological exploration programme, large-scale investment plans, state-of-the-art technological solutions and proposals for the extraction not only of lithium but also of associated critical metals. The project involves the construction of mines and a processing plant, as well as the development of the necessary production infrastructure; the total investment, depending on various scenarios, could exceed US$1.8 billion.
The ‘Dobra Plot’ deposit is one of Ukraine’s most promising sites for critical raw materials, as, in addition to lithium, it contains deposits of tantalum, niobium, beryllium, caesium, tungsten and other strategically important minerals. The implementation of the project is seen as an important step towards developing the extraction of critical minerals and attracting international investment into Ukraine’s mining sector.