Ukraine Looks to Private Companies to Speed Up Demining Efforts
Ukraine, known as the most mined country in the world, is seeking to turn its minefields into a profitable venture. The Ukrainian Ministry of Economic Development and Trade is calling on private companies to invest in demining operations in an effort to expedite the process that could otherwise take decades.
According to Ukrainian officials, approximately one-third of the country’s territory is potentially laden with landmines and unexploded ordnance, posing significant risks to civilians for years to come. Currently, demining operations are primarily carried out by state agencies and foreign charities. However, the government’s 16 certified demining teams are working at a pace that would take hundreds of years to clear the entire country.
In order to address this issue, Ukraine’s economic development ministry is trying to encourage private entrepreneurs and stimulate innovation in the field of demining. The first test of the commercial demining initiative took place in central Ukraine, showcasing demonstrations by three companies that specialize in detecting and destroying mines.
“We need to look for various ways of how to demine our land,” said Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s economic minister. “Otherwise, demining will take hundreds of years and we need to live and develop our economy now.”
The initiative focuses on humanitarian demining, which involves removing mines that remain long after battles have ended. This is distinct from clearing mines during combat, a task solely entrusted to the military.
Creating a free market for demining has been a key priority for Ukraine’s economic ministry. Under the plan, private landowners such as farmers or local governments would auction contracts to clear their sites in forested areas or open fields, each with varying degrees of difficulty and danger. So far, the ministry has received 69 applications from private companies, and once certified, these companies will have the opportunity to bid for the contracts.
The initiative also aims to encourage domestic innovations that can be exported to other countries facing similar mine-related challenges, rather than relying solely on established foreign defense industry companies.
“It is not our goal to make money as we want to demine our country,” said Riabchenko Ruslan, a designer with the Postup Foundation, a group involved in the demining project. “But once the war is over, we will be able to export our technology” for demining and other niche applications, such as archaeology.
Howard G. Buffett, son of billionaire investor Warren Buffett and director of global conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway, is among the supporters of this concept. The younger Buffett’s charity foundation provides support for demining efforts in Ukraine.
“It is really important to create an environment in which people are going to try to bring their best services and the best innovation to get this done,” said Howard G. Buffett.
In addition to saving lives, demining agricultural land will also contribute to lowering global food prices, according to Buffett.
During a recent visit to Ukraine, Buffett met with the first Ukrainian farmer to participate in a demining auction and observed demonstrations from the three companies involved in the project, including the use of drones designed to detect mines.
The importance of this initiative was evident in a field of dry, unharvested soy where mine removal experts have been working for two months, clearing approximately 120 acres. White and red ribbons and signs warning of mine danger were lined around the field, a common sight in Ukraine.
While the industry of mine detection and removal is not one that any country would aspire to lead, Ukraine sees it as an opportunity for innovation. “You are going to see Ukraine lead the world” in such technologies, said Howard G. Buffett.
The commercial demining initiative in Ukraine not only holds the potential to save lives and develop the country’s economy, but it may also pave the way for groundbreaking innovations in the field of demining and beyond.