By Eric Onstad

LONDON (Reuters) -The CEO of U.S.-backed investment vehicle TechMet is evaluating portfolio additions, including bidding for a Ukraine lithium deposit, but worries that Europe is lagging behind the U.S. in building a critical minerals sector to reduce Chinese dominance.

Privately-held TechMet, which has stakes in 10 companies, ranging from Brazilian Nickel to South Africa’s Rainbow Rare Earths, aims to add more within 12 months, Chief Executive Brian Menell told Reuters.

“This present short-term period of market weakness over supply of lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth metals is a fabulously enhanced opportunity to deploy capital,” he said in an interview.

The structure of TechMet limits the scope of investment due to its relatively low valuation of about $1.3 billi

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