In 2026, Ukraine aims to revive its geological exploration program, involving international partners in the process. These activities might commence even amid ongoing combat operations, according to Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture Yegor Perelygin.
Perelygin emphasized that the last time geological exploration was conducted with budgetary funding was over ten years ago. The program is set to return next year.
«We are reinstating geological exploration under a budget program. We are involving partners from the US, Germany, Canada, and the UK who are very interested», — the Deputy Minister stated.
To save time, work is planned to start with known mineral deposits from Soviet times. This approach will allow for operations without the need for high-tech scanning in the initial stages.
Perelygin explained that it is currently impossible to use technologies like lidar for aerial scanning, but Ukraine has «hundreds of locations where mineral deposits have already been identified».
«We can enter those sites with drilling equipment and start working. Once the war ends, we will implement lidar scanning, GIS, and other technologies. But we must not waste time; we need to get started. The main thing is to take the first step», — the Deputy Minister emphasized.