Heavy rains to threaten 25% of copper projects by 2050

By Cecilia Jamasmie – mining.com

A quarter of the world’s copper mining projects are at increasing risk from the impacts of climate change, with extreme rainfall expected to affect production of the metal crucial for the global clean energy transition by 2050, new research shows.

According to a study by risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft, around 25% of global copper projects are projected to face “high” or “very high” risk of extreme precipitation by mid-century. Major copper-producing countries, including Canada, Australia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), are expected to be the most vulnerable to climate-related disruptions.