Study On Resilient And Sustainable Raw Material Supply Chains – Economic Potential And Geopoliti-cal Implications On Ukrainian Raw Material Reserves
Ukraine holds a geostrategically important position in the global critical raw materials (CRM) land-scape, with significant deposits of lithium, natural graphite, and titanium — minerals essential for Eu-rope’s industrial decarbonization and energy transition. Despite its strong potential, the sector faces challenges related to outdated geological data, infrastructure gaps, regulatory barriers, and the im-pacts of the ongoing conflict. These conditions hamper Ukraine’s ability to fully leverage its CRM endowment for sustainable development and to position itself as a reliable partner in Europe’s transi-tion toward resilient and responsible value chains.
In this context, Projekt-Consult was contracted by GIZ to provide a comprehensive analysis of Ukraine’s CRM sector, focusing on its geological potential, value chain development, and associated ESG risks, while examining its alignment with EU priorities on green hydrogen and decarbonization. By identifying opportunities for investment and long-term cooperation, the study will deliver actiona-ble recommendations to inform EU and German policymakers and support Ukraine’s integration into European CRM supply chains.
The study has four main components:
(i) Analysis of geological potential and production capacities of lithium, natural graphite, and titanium;
(ii) Assessment of CRM value chains, including investment requirements, infrastructure bottlenecks, and market integration needs;
(iii) Integration of ESG considerations and alignment with decarbonization and green hydrogen strat-egies;
(iv) Development of recommendations for EU and German policymakers, supported by stakeholder mapping and structured dialogue.
This project is part of the EU’s efforts to strengthen resilient supply chains under the Green Deal and the Critical Raw Materials Act. Projekt-Consult GmbH is the implementing institution, commis-sioned by GIZ, and carries out the activities through a combination of desk research and targeted stakeholder engagement.
To accomplish this, Projekt-Consult provided the following services:
- Designed and applied a structured desk-based methodology using secondary sources and stakeholder interviews.
- Mapped Ukraine’s CRM sector, including deposits, licensing status, production capacities, and strategic relevance.
- Conducted interviews with sector stakeholders, investors, institutions, and communities to capture perspectives and validate findings.
- Prepared an economic modelling framework to estimate CAPEX, OPEX, and investment re-quirements per CRM value chain.
- Integrated ESG and rights-holder risks into the study design, with special focus on land ac-cess, environmental liabilities, and community impacts for graphite and titanium.
- Developed actionable recommendations for EU and German policymakers, aligning findings with the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and Ukraine’s energy transition strategies.
