CECE mining: Advancing Ukraine’s raw materials

• A conference in Brussels gathered policymakers and industry leaders to discuss Ukraine's reconstruction and industrial cooperation with Europe.

• Reconstruction funds will prioritize transport infrastructure, with EU investment continuing to support construction and raw materials projects.

• Ukraine aims to reduce reliance on Chinese technology, with European companies positioned to meet this demand.

• Major raw materials firms seek European partnerships to modernize operations and align with EU critical raw materials objectives.

• CECE members, including Metso, actively contribute to developing Ukraine's mineral resources and reconstruction efforts.

The event organized by European Business Summits in Brussels and the European Commission brings together policymakers, businesses and financial institutions for two days of high-level discussions on how to support Ukraine's defense and economic and industrial cooperation with its European partners.

The conference program also covered the crucial aspects of reconstruction in particular of transport and industrial infrastructure damaged by the conflict with Russia, privatization of public state enterprises and development of Ukrainian mining sector.

Key takeaways:

• Policymakers confirmed road, railways, ports and other transport infrastructure will have priority for the allocation of reconstruction funds. 

• The EU Ukraine Investment Framework will continue supporting projects in the construction and raw materials sector among others. Construction and mining equipment supplied by EU companies to Ukraine can also benefit from that.

• Ukraine industrial sector is working to reduce its reliance on Chinese supplied technology and European companies are best placed to address that demand.

• Major players in the raw materials sector like BVG and NEQSOL HOLDING are looking for European partners to support the modernization of existing operations and to unlock future raw materials project that can contribute to EU’s CRMA objectives.

Timo Sarvijärvi from Metso, one of CECE member companies, participated in the panel “Critical Raw Materials: de-risking EU investments to jointly develop Ukraine’s subsoil potential” where he talked about Metso’s contribution to develop Ukraine’s mineral resources and its collaboration with BGV GROUP MANAGEMENT for the development of a graphite mine in the Balakhivka deposit.

CECE and its members have been active on the reconstruction of Ukraine since the outset and we are glad to see that construction and mining are receiving the attention they deserve by policymakers.