If, in the light of Russian aggression against Ukraine, anyone wonders why Ukraine is so important to Russian President Vladimir Putin and why he wants to regain it under his influence, there is no doubt that some facts about Ukraine’s natural resources need to be known. For example, Ukraine is the first in Europe in terms of proven uranium ore reserves, and the 2nd in Europe and the 10th in the world in terms of titanium ore reserves.
Ukraine ranks 2nd in the world in terms of manganese ore reserves. They have 2.3 billion tons of ore, which represents 12 percent of the world’s reserves. The country also has the 2nd largest iron ore reserves in the world (30 billion tons) and ranks 2nd in Europe in terms of mercury reserves.
All this is far from what Ukraine has to offer. Namely, the country ranks 3rd in Europe (13th in the world) in terms of shale gas reserves (22 trillion cubic meters), 4th in the world in terms of the total value of natural resources and 7th in the world in terms of coal reserves (33.9 billion tons).
It can meet the food needs of 600 million people
However, it is not negligible that Ukraine is also an agricultural country and can meet the food needs of hundreds of millions of people. It is the first in Europe in terms of arable land and the third largest in the world in terms of the area of black soil, which is very fertile. Globally, it has as many as 25 percent of such soil. Ukraine ranks first in the world in terms of sunflower and sunflower oil exports, 2nd in the world in terms of barley production, and 4th in terms of barley exports; it is the 3rd largest producer and 4th largest exporter of corn in the world, the 4th largest producer of potatoes in the world, and the 5th largest producer of rye in the world.
The country ranks 5th in the world in terms of production of bee products (75 tons), 8th in the world in terms of wheat exports, 9th in the world in terms of production of chicken eggs, and 16th in the world in terms of cheese exports.
The country is highly industrialised
Ukraine is also considered a highly industrialised country. It is the first in Europe in terms of ammonia production, and it has the 2nd largest European and 4th largest gas pipeline system in the world (142.5 billion cubic meters of gas flow capacity in the European Union). In terms of the power of nuclear power plants, the country ranks 3rd in Europe and 8th in the world in terms of the power of nuclear power plants. Ukraine ranks 3rd in Europe and 11th in the world in terms of rail network length (21,700 km), and 3rd in the world (immediately behind the US and France) in the production of locators and locating equipment.
The country is also considered to be the 3rd largest exporter of iron in the world, the 4th largest exporter of turbines for nuclear power plants in the world, and the 4th largest manufacturer of rocket launchers in the world. It ranks 4th in the world in terms of clay exports, 4th in the world in terms of titanium exports, 8th in the world in terms of exports of ores and concentrates, 9th in the world in terms of exports of defence industry products. It is also considered the 10th largest steel producer in the world (32.4 million tons).
Nina Zoher
