Ukraine’s subsoil agreement with the US: How many dormant licenses are there in Ukraine, and what resources can be extracted?

As reported by the State Service of Geology and Subsoil, of the special permits for subsoil use issued in Ukraine, 154 are deemed dormant – indicating that less than 1% of the mineral reserves’ balance has been utilized over the past decade. This accounts for under 4.4% of the total valid permits for subsoil use in Ukraine as of April 2025 (3,503 permits) and approximately 6.3% of the extraction licenses (2,444 licenses).

It is important to note that these 154 special permits were granted by the second quarter of 2015. The permits primarily pertain to the extraction of granites (38), loams (22), sands (15), limestones (10), and clays (8). Notably, there are no special permits listed for hydrocarbons (such as oil, gas, or condensate). The government has announced plans to inspect all dormant special permits.