International Copper Association Australia

  • About ICAA
    • Projects
    • Partners
    • Global Copper Associations
    • Contact Us
  • News
    • Featured
    • General
    • John’s Blog
    • Innovation
    • Mining
    • Clean Energy
    • Net Zero
    • Health
    • Smart Wiring
    • Plumbing
  • Benefits of Copper
    • Air Quality
    • Electrical Safety
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Food Supply
    • Green Building
    • Human Health
    • Electric Vehicles
    • Sustainable Development
    • Recycling
    • Renewable Energy
  • Wiring
  • Electrical
  • Plumbing

Copper’s AI Edge?

Australia’s Tech Dilemma

Australians are keen on technology, especially at home, but the country’s broadband is just not cutting it apparently.  Well that’s the only conclusion you can draw from a bunch of…

Read More

Microbial Mining

A new copper leaching discovery suggests biotech-driven mining solutions could soon recover critical minerals, reduce waste and enhance sustainability. A critical minerals platform startup, Endolith, has successfully demonstrated that its…

Read More

The Clean Energy Election?

The return of a Labor Government is also being hailed as an endorsement of Australia’s remarkable renewables journey, but there’s still a long way to go. A lot of issues…

Read More

World Copper Supply & Demand Shifts

The world’s copper market is expected to see a significant surplus over the next two years says the latest forecast from the International Copper Study Group (ICSG). The Group said…

Read More

September 17, 2024 · Clean Energy, General, Mining

The world may still be figuring out how important Artificial Intelligence will ultimately be, but it’s already a big deal for copper according to BHP.

The world’s biggest miner has just said they see Artificial Intelligence—or AI—boosting demand for the red metal by as much as 72% in the coming decades.

AI data centres will, says BHP,  account for 6% to 7% of copper demand by 2050, up from less than 1% today, meaning global demand for copper will jump to 52.5M tons a year by the mid-century, compared to 30.4M tons in 2021.

The big reason is that the chips that power AI are massively power-intensive, with the International Energy Agency—IEA—predicting that electricity consumption from data centres, AI, and the cryptocurrency sector could double by 2026. A level of electricity consumption equivalent to Japan’s.

The recent BHP comment is sure to add to already robust global speculation about copper demand and supply. For months now market analysts & research companies have been predicting a world copper deficit. What is still unknown is how big that demand will be

Global inventory hit its lowest level since 2008 last year with existing projects failing to keep up with demand. Meanwhile, new mines are not coming online fast enough with a recent report saying they can take over 20 years to go from discovery to production. 

The IEA has added that the world will need to address strained electrical power grids if the demand on them keeps rising. Grid upgrades, however, also require copper, particularly from renewable energy solutions. 

As one analyst pointed out “wherever there is economic development…….there is significant growth in copper consumption.”

Featured

Australia’s Tech Dilemma

Australians are keen on technology, especially at home, but the country’s broadband is just not cutting it apparently.  Well that’s…

Read More

Microbial Mining

A new copper leaching discovery suggests biotech-driven mining solutions could soon recover critical minerals, reduce waste and enhance sustainability. A…

Read More

The Clean Energy Election?

The return of a Labor Government is also being hailed as an endorsement of Australia’s remarkable renewables journey, but there’s…

Read More

World Copper Supply & Demand Shifts

The world’s copper market is expected to see a significant surplus over the next two years says the latest forecast…

Read More

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and receive the latest credible and independent news from the collective industry.

Subscribe now

About ICAA

  • About ICAA
  • Projects
  • Partners
  • Global Copper Associations
  • Contact Us

Our Other Websites

  • The Copper Mark
  • Antimicrobial Copper
  • Australian Registered Cablers
  • Smart Wiring
International Copper Association Australia Limited
Suite 1A, Level 7, 100 William Street
Woolloomooloo, NSW 2011

E-mail: enquiries@copper.com.au
  • ICAAsiaPacific on Twitter
  • ICAA on LinkedIn
  • MMG Limited
  • Tyree Transformers
  • MM Kembla Copper
  • Ok Tedi Mining Limited
  • Evolution-Mining
  • Sandfire Resources NL
  • Glencore Australia
  • PanAust Limited
  • KEY Tubing & Electrical Pty Ltd
  • Aeris Resources
  • BHP
  • Cyprium Metals
© Copyright 2018 International Copper Association Australia Limited.