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The copper kingdom

Copper is critical in making wind turbines, electric cars and solar panels but can the supply meet the soaring demands?

The world is electrifying and central to our decarbonisation drive is copper. The red metal is second only to silver as the best conductor of electricity and it is critical in the manufacture of wind turbines, electric cars and solar panels. Reporter Robin Markwell travels through Chile where the reserves of some of the world’s largest copper mines are starting to dwindle. Can supply keep pace with soaring demand?

(Photo: Two men stand in front of a Chilean copper mine. Credit: Reuters)

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27 minutes

Last on

Sun 22 Jun 202522:32GMT
BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

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  • Thu 19 Jun 202501:32GMT
    BBC World Service
  • Thu 19 Jun 202508:32GMT
    BBC World Service
  • Thu 19 Jun 202519:06GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
  • Sat 21 Jun 202516:32GMT
    BBC World Service News Internet
  • Sat 21 Jun 202523:32GMT
    BBC World Service except Americas and the Caribbean, East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
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    Live News
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    BBC World Service except Australasia & East and Southern Africa
  • Sun 22 Jun 202522:32GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only