Developing the Next Generation of Supply
Absa Corporate and Investment Banking's Shirley Webber speaks to Creamer Media's Mariaan Webb about the growing challenge of bringing new copper supply to market, the investment required to develop new mines, and why the industry faces a looming supply deficit. Camerawork: Shadwyn Dickinson. Editing: Nicholas Boyd.
The global copper market is expected to remain in deficit as growing demand from the energy transition collides with the realities of bringing new supply to market.
In this episode of IN FOCUS, Absa Corporate and Investment Banking head of resources and energy coverage Shirley Webber explains that copper supply is struggling to keep pace, despite strong prices and clear long-term demand signals.
Webber notes that developing a new copper mine is a lengthy and capital-intensive process that can take more than a decade, prompting many mining companies to focus on expanding existing operations rather than pursuing greenfield developments.
She says demand is already outstripping supply, and unless significantly more investment is committed to new projects, copper deficits are likely to persist in the years ahead.
The interview forms part of the second episode of Creamer Media's five-part IN FOCUS series examining the forces shaping the global copper market.
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