Forget Energy -- Copper Is AI's Real Bottleneck. Here Are the 2 Miners to Profit Most.

Forget Energy -- Copper Is AI's Real Bottleneck. Here Are the 2 Miners to Profit Most.

Briefly

"Over the past 10,000 years, humanity has mined about 700 million metric tons of copper, with 80% still in use today. Global annual consumption stands at 30 million tons, with only 4 million tons coming from recycling. To maintain 3% GDP growth - without additional electrification demands - the world would need to mine the equivalent of the past 10,000 years' production in the next 18 years. When factoring in green technology and AI, the shortfall grows even larger."

"Driven by rising demand from electrification, renewable energy infrastructure, data centers, artificial intelligence (AI) development, and grid upgrades, Friedland contrasted the vast oil market with the smaller, thinly traded metals markets, including copper. He noted that shifting away from crude oil requires these metals for electric vehicles, windmills, solar panels, and military technology. He also highlighted copper's essential role in underwater power cables and offshore wind farms."

"Friedland warned of a "train wreck" unless six new tier-one mines come online every year from now until 2050, representing 40% of future production. He called much of the AI and green energy hype "fantasy" without adequate metals and energy, noting even nuclear plants require these resources. That means the following two copper miners stand to reap a massive windfall from the coming copper boom that will make the current situation seem quaint."