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The copper kingdom

Copper is critical in making wind turbines, electric cars and solar panels but can the supply meet the soaring demands?

The world is electrifying and central to our decarbonisation drive is copper. The red metal is second only to silver as the best conductor of electricity and it is critical in the manufacture of wind turbines, electric cars and solar panels. Reporter Robin Markwell travels through Chile where the reserves of some of the world’s largest copper mines are starting to dwindle. Can supply keep pace with soaring demand?

(Photo: Two men stand in front of a Chilean copper mine. Credit: Reuters)

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27 minutes

Last on

Sun 22 Jun 2025 22:32GMT

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