PGMs
Commented by Nico Popp on March 25th, 2026 | 07:25 CET
Copper and PGMs as Strategic Bottlenecks: Is Power Metallic Mines Coming into Focus for Rio Tinto, Lundin Mining, and Others?
The energy transition and the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure have ushered in a new era in the commodities sector. Copper and platinum group metals (PGMs) have become increasingly expensive. The copper market hit a record high of over USD 14,500/t in January of this year. The International Energy Agency (IEA) warns of a significant supply deficit that could reach about 30% of demand by 2035. While capital expenditures in the sector remain well below their peak, demand is exploding due to artificial intelligence (AI) and new data centers. Industry giants such as Rio Tinto are positioning themselves through capital-intensive large-scale projects, while Lundin Mining is investing billions to scale up production in South America. For investors, however, the focus is increasingly shifting toward the quality and jurisdiction of new discoveries. This is where Power Metallic Mines comes into the spotlight: the explorer has identified a polymetallic system in the Canadian province of Québec that significantly exceeds the average grades of major producers, making the company a highly attractive takeover candidate.
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