X International Scientific-Practical Conference “Subsurface Use in Ukraine. Investment Prospects”

11.10.2025

On October 6–10, 2025, the city of Lviv hosted the X anniversary International Scientific-Practical Conference «Subsurface Use in Ukraine. Prospects for Investment», traditionally held annually by the State Commission of Ukraine on Mineral Resources and the Ukrainian Geological Survey. Softmine LLC participated in the event with two professional presentations.

Nina Safronova presented a report entitled «Overview of approaches to critical minerals listing in the US, EU, and Ukraine», which highlighted:

    • updated methodology for criticality assessment and corresponding critical minerals list for the United States, presented in 2025;
    • the European Commission’s approaches to listing critical and strategic raw materials and the corresponding lists for 2023;
    • review of projects that are strategically important for ensuring diversification and access to raw materials for the European Union;
    • comparison of approaches to critical mineral listing of the US and EU with analysis of differences and similarities;
    • Comparative analysis of critical mineral lists of the US, EU, and Ukraine.

Nataliia Bariatska’s report, «CRISCO Template and JORC Code Updates», addressed key changes to the International Reporting Template for the Public Reporting of Exploration Targets, Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves of Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO Template) and the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves of the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC Code). Currently, the implementation of recognized reporting standards and classification of mineral resources and reserves in accordance with the CRIRSCO template is crucial for increasing transparency in order to attract investment, enhance the competitiveness of the Ukrainian subsoil use industry, and integrate into global markets and supply chains. The report presents:

    • key developments in the CRIRSCO template update process, which began in early 2023;
    • overview of key changes in the new version of the CRIRSCO template, published on June 26, 2024;
    • the timeline of the JORC code update process, which began in 2020 and is still ongoing;
    • analysis of the main changes presented in the draft JORC Сode in 2024 (the final version of the document is expected in late 2025 – early 2026); 
    • comparison of processes and results of updating key international regulatory documents on reporting on mineral resources and reserves.

Watch the full recording of the conference here.