TL;DR the world is running out of easily extracted copper at an alarming rate
We have ran out of easily extracted copper several times already.
Minerals are not oil: they have a geological availability and you can always find them by digging deeper.
Journalists routinely misinterpret reserve estimations: when production outpaces exploration (there is a lag between a rise in the former and a rise in the later) official reserves (known supplies, identified as economical) can look extremely low, but no, we wont run out of them anytime soon.
Note: this is valid for rare earths as well. We may have punctual problems of production which will still cause problems, but it is not a case of “running out” of it like we have for oil.
There’s a big interest in copper mining development right now because of this shortage. Alternatively, I imagine recyclers are getting creative with new methods.
You never know, China could start developing mining infrastructure of their own too.
They’re the 3rd largest producer of copper, globally
I’d have to see further sources on this. It sounds speculative. The open pit mine I visited this summer in Arizona says they have 50 years of easily extractable ore at current rates. That was just one mine, there are others with similar or larger unrecovered deposits. There are also vast underground deposits with proposed mines awaiting approval. It’s worth noting the environmental impact of these mines. The one I was at is a huge ugly scar on an otherwise beautiful landscape.
Get ready for more power outages caused by roasted meth heads trying to steal live utility lines.
Happens already
Sounds like India or South Africa lol, btw does this stuff happen much in the USA?
I’ve read about it happening in the US in poorer communities with houses that sit empty - bricks and other materials can be taken, too.
This is a case where there is a good technological solution. It does however require some experimentation and investment.
There are mountains of valuable minerals in landfills all over the world. Not just copper, but gold, platinum, palladium, and cobalt to name a few in the form of discarded e-waste. Recycling it is a huge pain in the ass and therefore expensive, so it’s still cheaper to scratch new virgin materials out of the ground instead.
With the introduction of AI, companies have been scrambling to use it for the wrong things. What AI does best is pattern recognition, which is great for sorting waste. We can combine this with arrays of sensors that generate data fro things like light spectrum reflection and you have a sorting system that literally eats landfill and shits out valuable minerals.
