The popularity of electric vehicles has driven prices for battery metals sharply higher, even sparking fears of shortages of materials like lithium, cobalt and nickel.
Half the projects needed to plug copper’s 6 million tonne long term supply gap will have to come from uncommitted, speculative greenfield projects – and history suggests few ever become mines.
There are "very active discussions with a number of players" to develop an EV supply chain, Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said in an interview.