In 2025, the world finds itself standing at the precipice of a profound transformation, one that promises to reshape industries, communities, and our very relationship with the environment. Yet, within this pivotal moment, a critical challenge emerges, one that is grounded in the scarcity of an essential material: copper. This issue, long overlooked, has now reached a stage where it threatens to impede the progress of the global green transition, the very force driving humanity’s collective efforts to preserve our planet and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.
At Albanian Minerals and its subsidiaries, we have closely monitored the developments in mining and refining over the past years, collecting valuable insights from our work with miners across the globe. These insights, drawn from a comprehensive analysis of global copper supplies and demand trends, present a stark reality: the world is running out of time. A shortage of copper is on the horizon, one exacerbated by a range of factors, including underinvestment in geological exploration, insufficient mining activities, and the depletion of known reserves. This situation calls for immediate and urgent attention from industry leaders, financial institutions, and governments alike.
Copper, an unassuming yet indispensable metal, stands as the cornerstone of this green revolution. Its significance cannot be overstated. It is the silent enabler of the technologies that drive renewable energy, electrification, and energy efficiency, key pillars of the green transition. For those who may not realize it, copper is the lifeblood coursing through the veins of solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and power grids. It is woven into the fabric of modern society, silently carrying the current that powers our homes, fuels our industries, and increasingly drives the technologies that promise a brighter, more sustainable future.
The remarkable properties of copper make it uniquely suited for the monumental tasks ahead. Its unparalleled electrical conductivity makes it a critical component in electrical wiring, motors, transformers, and circuit boards. In renewable energy systems, copper serves as the conduit through which energy flows, whether it be the vast web of cables transmitting electricity from solar farms or the intricate networks of wind turbine generators transforming kinetic energy into usable power. Every solar panel, every wind turbine, and every energy-efficient appliance depends on copper to deliver its full potential.
Perhaps most striking is copper’s role in the rise of electric vehicles, a crucial component of the shift away from fossil fuel dependence. As the world embraces electric mobility, copper is at the very heart of this transformation. From the electric motors that propel these vehicles to the batteries that store and release energy, copper’s role cannot be replaced or replicated. Electric vehicles, which already require significantly more copper than their traditional counterparts, will see their demand for this precious metal surge as more and more drivers make the switch to cleaner, greener alternatives.
The world’s transition to a greener future is not solely about replacing outdated technology; it is about transforming how we live, work, and interact with our environment. This transformation involves the electrification of sectors traditionally dependent on fossil fuels, such as transportation, heating, and industry. The shift towards electrification requires an enormous increase in electrical infrastructure, including power transmission lines, grid modernization, and the development of smart grids and energy storage solutions, all of which depend heavily on copper.
However, the need for copper extends far beyond electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. In the construction sector, copper’s durability and recyclability make it an ideal material for sustainable buildings and infrastructure. Whether in wiring, piping, or roofing, copper is an essential building block in the creation of the green cities of tomorrow. Its long lifespan ensures that once it is installed, it remains a valuable and functional asset for decades, contributing to the reduction of waste and the need for raw material extraction.
At the heart of this urgency lies the concept of the circular economy, a framework where the reuse and recycling of materials takes precedence over the extraction of new resources. Copper, with its ability to be recycled without losing its exceptional properties, plays a pivotal role in this vision. Each year, about one-third of the copper used globally is recycled, helping to reduce the strain on mining operations and easing the pressure on natural reserves. As demand for copper grows in line with the green transition, this recycling loop becomes ever more critical in ensuring a sustainable supply.
Yet, despite these immense contributions to global sustainability, copper’s future is not secure. The failure to invest adequately in copper mining and exploration has left the world exposed to a future where supply may no longer meet demand. The deposits of the past are dwindling, and new discoveries are few and far between. This gap in supply threatens to undermine the progress of green technologies, from energy storage systems to the very infrastructure that will support the electric vehicles of tomorrow.
At Albanian Minerals, we have recognized this challenge and have committed ourselves to investing in the future of copper. We understand that this is not simply an issue of business, this is a matter of global importance, of safeguarding the tools that will enable us to combat climate change, reduce our carbon footprint, and build a sustainable future. Our work is focused on discovering new copper reserves, investing in the infrastructure needed to extract and refine this precious metal, and advocating for greater global cooperation in ensuring a reliable and sustainable copper supply.
As we move forward into this new era, we call upon global companies, financial institutions, and governments to join us in this mission. Together, we must create the conditions for a more sustainable copper supply, one that can meet the needs of the green transition without compromising the needs of future generations. The importance of copper cannot be overstated, it is the foundation upon which the green revolution will be built, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that this critical resource is available for years to come.
Copper, with its remarkable properties and unparalleled versatility, is not merely a metal; it is a symbol of the hope that we can rise to meet the challenges of our time. It is the key to unlocking a cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable future. But we must act now, before the light of this opportunity fades away, leaving us to wonder what could have been.
Sahit Muja
New York
