2,268 companies and 78 individuals hold 3,482 valid special permits for subsoil use in Ukraine. The ownership structure includes representatives from 51 countries, with the largest numbers from Cyprus, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
This is according to a study by YouControl.
"Most companies holding such special permits have only one valid permit, but some companies possess hundreds or dozens. For example, the state-owned JSC 'Ukrgasvydobuvannya' holds 213 permits, while PJSC 'Ukrnafta' has 89," the study states.
More than 10 legal entities with special permits are part of "SCM" (39 permits), "Smart-Holding" (17), "Zakhidnadraservice" (13), "Istvan" (12), and "ATB" (11). The co-founder of "ATB," Hennadiy Butkevych, is the beneficiary of:
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LLC Rozvytok Pobuzhzhya (graphite)
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LLC Perzhanska Ore Company (zinc, beryllium)
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LLC Titan-Apatite Group (titanium)
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LLC CFR Group (zirconium)
A total of 39 companies hold special permits for 16 out of 50 critical minerals in Ukraine. Some companies have permits for multiple critical resources.
Ten of these companies are state-owned, including LLC Demurinsky GOK, which has the right to extract several critical minerals, including vanadium, niobium, and scandium.
Previously, Demurinsky GOK belonged to sanctioned Russian businessman Mikhail Shelkov.
The United Mining and Chemical Company (OGHK) holds permits for five out of 50 critical minerals. It acquired LLC "Cemin Ukraine" from the state at auction, which is part of the Nexol Holding group.
Companies linked to sanctioned businessman Dmytro Firtash's Group DF also hold permits for titanium, vanadium, scandium, and zirconium.
The only legal entity with a permit to extract lithium ores is LLC UkrLithiumMining, whose beneficiary is Serhiy Tabalov from the Tabalov Family Group.
The study by YouControl is based on the list of 50 critical minerals published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 2022.
