Ukraine Proposes Supplying Industrial Waste to U.S. Under Minerals Agreement

Ukraine is preparing to supply the United States with industrial waste as a source of strategic minerals, Deputy Economy Minister Yegor Perelygin said on Monday. Perelygin, who also sits on the governing council of the joint Ukraine-U.S. mineral resources investment fund, emphasized that materials long treated as useless could now serve as a valuable raw material base.

Turning “Ballast” into Strategic Resources

“What has been considered ballast for decades is really a new raw material base: without opening new quarries, we can obtain strategic metals for batteries, electronics, aviation, and the defense industry—and at the same time neutralize the negative historical environmental consequences,” Perelygin was quoted as saying by Strana.ua.

He added that industrial waste, particularly from Ukraine’s mining and metallurgical sectors, could provide alternative sources of key raw materials.

Strengthening Ukraine-U.S. Minerals Partnership

The initiative falls under the framework of the recently established Ukraine-U.S. mineral resources investment fund, designed to boost cooperation in securing critical materials vital to high-tech and defense industries.

Last week, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced the appointment of three government representatives to the council of the fund:

• Oleksii Sobolev – Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture

• Yegor Perelygin – Deputy Economy Minister

• Oleksandr Karasevych – State Secretary of the Foreign Ministry

On Wednesday, Svyrydenko confirmed that the council held its first official meeting, during which it approved operational rules, established working committees, and granted powers to its members.

The Bigger Picture

As global competition for critical minerals intensifies, Ukraine is positioning itself as a key supplier to Western partners. By repurposing industrial waste, Kyiv hopes not only to provide essential resources for clean energy and defense technologies but also to mitigate long-standing environmental damage caused by decades of heavy industry.