The demand for critical metals and minerals is increasing sharply as clean energy transitions gather pace. Substances such as copper, nickel, cobalt and graphite are essential components in many of today’s rapidly growing clean energy technologies – from wind turbines and electricity networks to electric vehicles.
A report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) concluded that if the world is to meet net-zero as a global goal, the demand for minerals and metals will increase six times by 2040, compared to today’s needs.
Can recycling be part of the solution? According to the IEA, recycling will reduce the need for primary minerals by about 10% by 2040. In other words, increased production of minerals and metals will be required over a long period of time.
To build a sustainable society, we need to speed up the shift towards a more sustainable mining industry that is emission-free, digital and automated. We at Epiroc accelerate this transformation.
