Cleaner copper mining aims to meet growing demand

Copper is critical for renewable energy technologies, and startups are exploring less-polluting methods to extract and refine the metal.

Maddie Stone reports for Grist.

In short:

• Mining startups like Still Bright and Ceibo are developing cleaner alternatives to traditional copper smelting, which is highly polluting and energy-intensive.
• Techniques like heap leaching and electrochemical reductive leaching could make it possible to extract copper from low-grade ores more efficiently, reducing environmental harm.
• Copper demand is projected to triple by 2040 due to its use in renewable energy technologies like wind turbines, solar panels and EVs.

Key quote:

“We’re going to be using copper for a long time to come. We should be thinking how do we get that copper without these ancient technologies that pollute so much.”

— Jim Pew, attorney, Earthjustice

Why this matters:

Copper is essential for the energy transition but extracting it comes with steep environmental and social costs, including toxic pollution and habitat destruction. Emerging technologies could reduce the impact, but they won’t eliminate mining’s challenges, such as its effects on water supplies and Indigenous lands.