Tibetan Plateau holds vast copper potential

China has made a significant leap in its mineral exploration efforts. 

Researchers from the China Geological Survey announced that over 20 million metric tonnes of new copper resources have been discovered on the Tibetan Plateau, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media. 

This discovery adds to the 53 million tonnes of confirmed copper reserves on the plateau as of 2021, which represented more than half of China’s total copper reserves. The researchers estimate the plateau’s copper potential could reach as high as 150 million tonnes, spread across four major resource areas: Yulong, Duolong, Jiulong-Jiama, and Xiongcun-Zhuno.

Regarded as China’s most important "strategic resource reserve base," the Tibetan Plateau is rich in essential minerals such as copper, chromium, cobalt, lead, and zinc, which account for 30-90 per cent of the nation's reserves in these categories, according to the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research website. 

China's demand for copper remains substantial. According to data from the International Copper Study Group, global refined copper consumption in 2023 totaled 27.01 million tonnes, with China consuming more than half, reinforcing its position as the world’s largest copper consumer.

In 2023, the four main sectors driving China’s copper demand—electric power, home appliances, transportation, and construction—together accounted for 79 per cent of the country’s total copper consumption.

By Naila Huseynova