【SMM Copper Flash News】Recycled copper could be the key to global energy transition

Published: Oct 1, 2025 15:25

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As the global energy transition accelerates, the imbalance between copper supply and demand is becoming increasingly prominent. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA)'s "Net Zero Emissions 2050 Scenario," half of copper demand will be used for clean energy technologies by 2040, and global copper demand is projected to increase by over 50% by 2050. Clean energy power systems demand copper 6-12 times more than fossil fuel-based systems, while a single electric vehicle uses 2-3 times more copper than a traditional fuel vehicle. However, significantly increasing copper mining in the short term faces numerous challenges: On the one hand, the development cycle of deep mines is lengthy; on the other hand, the approval process for new mines is slow. Furthermore, the quality of copper ore in existing mines continues to decline, leading to rising energy and water consumption during mining. Amidst this increasingly pronounced imbalance between copper supply and demand, recycling and reuse may become a key path to a breakthrough.

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