Page 33 from: Recycling International January/February issue 2023
33recyclinginternational.com | January/February | 2023
COPPER
secondary smelters using scrap and
currently processes one million tonnes
of recycled metals annually, mostly
copper.
‘We used 450 000 tonnes of copper
scrap in 2021 so, as such, half of our
metal feedstock comes from recy-
cling,’ Heiskanen says, adding that
Aurubis has spent EUR 730 million on
environment-friendly measures since
2000.
‘The latest news is that we are build-
ing a new copper recycling plant in
Augusta, Georgia. We are investing
EUR 300 million in this innovative US
venture, which will have a capacity of
90 000 tonnes per year.’
The facility will create 120 new jobs
and start operations in the first half of
2024. ‘It will treat complex scrap,
including printed circuit boards. We
hope to double our processing capac-
ity in the second year of operations. I
know we haven’t even opened the
facility yet but we have an ambitious
growth target in mind.’
Heiskanen reports that global trade
flows in copper scrap paint only part
of the picture as 6.7 million tonnes of
global copper scrap is unaccounted
for each year. ‘Where does the materi-
al go? How does it fall between the
cracks? Our industry still has a lot of
work to do.’
The better news is that others are
heeding that call. For example,
Wieland Group is putting EUR 80 mil-
lion into a new copper recycling plant
at its main German production site in
Vöhringen. The expansion adds
approximately 80 000 tonnes of annu-
al recycling capacity, which represents
a significant next step in the compa-
ny’s strategy to boost its recycling
operations worldwide.
Wieland’s site is due to operate from
the beginning of 2025 as part of plans
to achieve an average of 80% recycled
content in its copper and copper alloy
semi-finished products. By electrifying
the process, Wieland says it will signif-
icantly reduce its products’ carbon
footprint.
Company ceo Dr Erwin Mayr says the
site will create 2 000 ‘future-oriented’
jobs. Last June, Wieland broke ground
at a US copper recycling facility in
Kentucky and operations there are
due to begin by the end of 2023.
ELECTRIC MOMENTUM
Arubis’ Heiskanen underlines that
copper will be a hugely important
metal in the future because ‘it’s one of
the materials driving electrification’.
Total global energy consumption from
all sources is expected to reach 1 000
exajoules by 2100, increasing six-fold
in the next 50 years. This may seem a
long way away but that big wave is
considered inevitable.
‘Whether it’s power usage, genera-
tion, distribution, storage or manage-
ment, we’re talking about a metal-
hungry chain,’ Heiskanen says.
‘Everything relies on cables or batter-
ies, you name it. The electric conduc-
Fotobijschrift
GLOBAL COPPER STATS
• Preliminary figures indicate that global copper mine production in 2021
reached 21.4 million tonnes. The largest producer of mined copper was
Chile (5.6 million tonnes).
• Smelter production that year reached 21.4 million tonnes. China was the
largest producer of blister & anode.
• Refinery Production increased to 24.8 million tonnes, including 4.1 million
tonnes of secondary refined production. China was the largest producer.
• World refined usage has more than tripled in the last 50 years.
• Refined copper usage in 2021 reached 25.3 million tonnes. China was also
the largest consumer of refined copper, with apparent usage of around
13.9 million tonnes.
• According to the International Copper Association, equipment was the
largest copper end-use sector, followed by building construction and
infrastructure.
• New copper applications being developed include antimicrobial touch
surfaces, lead-free brass plumbing, high-tech wire, heat exchangers, and
new consumer products.
Global copper scrap supply is projected to hit 12 million tonnes by 2030.
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