As global governments push for a rapid transition to electric vehicles and to wind and solar power, they are creating a demand for copper that threatens to undermine the very goals they seek to achieve.

According to a recent International Energy Forum report, electrifying the global vehicle fleet would require the opening of 55% more new copper mines than are already needed, and twice the total amount of copper that has ever been mined throughout human history over the next three decades.

Global demand for copper is expected to double by 2035.

That gives the advantage to China, because it controls 44% of the world’s refined copper supply, more than six times the next biggest supplier. But even with all China’s copper, the world is still falling short.

The recent attempted merger between mining giants BHP and Anglo American highlights the growing demand for copper. BHP, one of the........

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