Ukraine is strengthening the European Union’s strategic autonomy in critical raw materials by opening new graphite projects to international competition, offering Europe a rare combination of scale and short logistics. On January 19, 2026, media reported that Czech company SOLARTEC had initiated preparations for an auction to obtain a special licence for the Maidan area of the Burtin graphite deposit in Ukraine’s Khmelnytskyi region, a move seen as strategically significant for EU supply chains, as outlined in reporting on the planned graphite licence auction.
For the Czech Republic, the project’s value lies in Ukraine’s position as one of the few European-accessible suppliers of a large graphite resource that can be brought to market relatively quickly. Ukraine ranks among the world’s top five countries by graphite resource base, with around 343 million tonnes of graphite ore containing 4–10% graphite. Yet industrial production remains limited, with only four licensed sites and effectively a single active producer as of late 2025.
Strategic geography and reduced supply risks
Graphite from Ukrainian deposits carries added weight because of its location within Europe’s economic space. The advantage is not only distance, but the ability to integrate supplies into predictable land-based logistics corridors. This reduces exposure to maritime chokepoints, sanctions-related disruptions and geopolitical shocks.
For Czech industry, such geography translates into shorter delivery times and lower transport costs, while reducing dependence on politically fragile or distant routes. Each additional Ukrainian site brought into a competitive process directly strengthens the EU’s resilience in securing critical materials for batteries, metallurgy and clean technologies.
From raw material to value-added production
Ukraine’s role in this process extends beyond that of a raw ore supplier. The Maidan project illustrates the potential to create value-added stages aligned with EU standards inside Ukraine itself. SOLARTEC’s expertise in solar energy enables the integration of energy solutions into energy-intensive extraction and beneficiation stages, lowering costs and improving project economics.
This creates a business case for initial processing or preparation of graphite concentrate tailored to the needs of European manufacturers directly in Ukraine. Such an approach allows part of the production cycle to remain local, changing Ukraine’s position in European value chains from auxiliary to structurally important.
A new model of market access and leverage
By launching new auctions, Ukraine is shifting from a closed resource model to a managed expansion of access to strategic subsoil assets. The state is actively shaping market entry rather than passively reacting to investor interest, reducing regulatory uncertainty for European companies and establishing clearer long-term rules.
Scarcity of graphite within Europe strengthens Ukraine’s negotiating position. With limited available deposits, each new project automatically carries strategic significance. This allows Kyiv to influence cooperation terms, including expectations on processing depth and industrial participation, rather than focusing solely on financial metrics.
Long-term industrial resilience for Europe
Over the longer term, Ukrainian graphite functions as a systemic element of Europe’s industrial resilience. It supports sectors essential for the energy transition and manufacturing modernisation. For the Czech Republic, early involvement offers a chance to secure a place in these supply chains at an early stage.
For Ukraine, the strategic value lies in becoming indispensable rather than peripheral to Europe’s industrial future. By expanding the EU’s real choice in critical materials, Ukraine positions itself as a driver of sustainable industrial chains that deliver long-term benefits for European partners and reinforce the continent’s strategic autonomy.
