20 Mineral and fuel energy resources of Ukraine

Raw mineral resources, mining of minerals and their processing will playa great role in the world economy structure in future.

On the basis of Ukraine's structural reorganization, the country can come out of the crisis in a short period of time utilizing different possible resources, such as basic production funds, means of communication, man-power and abundant natural resources.

In resent years, possibilities have been substantiated for further growth of hydrocarbon reserves. These years were associated with search for and exploration of new deposits in Ukraine -those of gold, chromium, copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum, rare-earth elements, phosphorites, fluorite, gem stones and others. It is due to these deposits that proper conditions can be created for raising the export potential of the country. By expert estimates, export potentialities for minerals can grow 1.5-2 times with imported raw minerals (without hydrocarbons) reducing by 60- 70%. In this case, the external economic trade balance will change in favour of Ukraine and give an annual total saving of 5-6 billion US dollars as much.