Global copper supply could be strengthened by recovering more of the metal already contained in mined materials, alongside new mining and expanded recycling efforts.
Copper is essential to electrification and is widely used in power grids, electric vehicles, wind turbines, data centers, and electronic devices. Global demand is projected to increase from 26.7 million metric tons in 2024 to 31.3 million metric tons by 2030, increasing the importance of efficient resource recovery.
Large quantities of copper bearing material have already been extracted but remain in low grade or complex rock that conventional processing methods may not fully recover. Developing additional recovery methods could bring this material into productive use and provide another source of copper for global supply networks.
One approach is bioleaching, which uses naturally occurring microorganisms to help release copper from low grade ores. Advances in microbial analysis, real time monitoring, and computing are helping operators better manage these biological processes and improve recovery performance.
Recovering copper from existing mining operations can also make use of infrastructure that is already in place. This can create an additional supply pathway while supporting more efficient use of previously mined resources.
Alongside new mine development and recycling, copper recovery could become an important part of long term supply planning. Turning existing material into usable resources can strengthen the flow of critical metals to manufacturers and industries supporting the global energy transition.
As demand for copper continues to grow, combining new production, recycling, and improved recovery methods can help create a more resource efficient and resilient global supply network.
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