Thanks for this.
According to many sources, the ability to deliver copper to market will be increasingly important over the next 10 to 15 years. Why? Because electric vehicles are projected to replace diesel and ICE vehicles during this period of time.
Germany is already reacting to diesel, other European nations are following;
Bloomberg is forecasting EV sales increasing from a record 1.1 million worldwide in 2017 to 11 million in 2025 and 30 million in 2030 - China is expected to lead this transition from the Internal Combustion Engine ("ICE")
This would impact demand for oil
Electric vehicles use more copper
However, it appears unlikely that copper production can meet increasing demand
- Teck - Global Metals, Mining & Steel Conference May 15, 2018
- Slide 92 - Planned Copper Projects will not meet Demand - it peaks in 2020
Teck - Project Satellite:
- Slide 102 - Project Satellite - Teck owns 75% of Schaft Creek
- Slide 105 - Assessing development options for this large copper, moly project.
https://www.teck.com/media/BofAML-Gilobal-Conference-Final.p
Conclusion:
All of this may describe an immense opportunity or nothing at all.
We may or may not know before end of 2018 as moving Schaft Creek into a producing copper mine takes 5# years.
What could happen to copper prices by 2023? Could this impact Teck's decision on Schaft Creek.
