A recent S&P Global report reveals that the average time for...

A recent S&P Global report reveals that the average time for copper mines to transition from discovery to production has lengthened significantly. Globally, this process now takes about 17.9 years, with the United States experiencing even longer timelines—nearly 29 years on average.

Zambia is the only country surpassing the U.S., with a staggering 34-year average.

Key contributors to these delays include lengthy permitting processes, regulatory challenges, and investment uncertainties. These bottlenecks contrast sharply with surging demand for copper, fueled by its critical role in technologies like electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure.

This growing supply-demand gap poses serious risks to meeting future copper needs, particularly as nations accelerate decarbonization efforts. Complex regulatory systems in the U.S. and elsewhere exacerbate these delays, making it difficult for new projects to meet rising global demand.

Worryingly, many projects are stalled before they even reach the development phase. Of 239 major discoveries analyzed in the report, 148 remain undeveloped, with 121 still undergoing feasibility studies. Only 15 have reached the construction stage and begun development.

Without significant reforms in permitting and development processes, the copper industry may struggle to meet the demands of a rapidly electrifying world.

https://www.miningvisuals.com/post/copper-mines-average-time-from-discovery-to-production-is-17-9-years