On November 14, 2023 Asia Copper Week opened in Shanghai. The event was co-hosted by the Chilean Copper and Mining Research Center and the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association. The event included the World Copper Conference, the CEO Summit and the Asia Copper Dinner. Ge Honglin, member of the Standing Committee of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Secretary of the Party Committee of China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNMIA) and President of CNMIA, and Chen Xuesen, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of CNMIA and Vice President of CNMIA, attended the event.
Currently, the global copper industry change is unfolding in an unprecedented new way. In the past few years, the global copper mining industry has experienced prosperity, but also experienced the “global epidemic” on the copper market brought about by the perturbation of the global energy transition, green low-carbon development for the development of the copper industry has brought new opportunities and new challenges. The event has become a communication platform for the global copper industry chain to enhance mutual trust and deepen cooperation in the new period.
Aurora Williams, Minister of Mining of Chile, introduced Chile’s mining industry and the situation related to the sustainable development of the mining industry. She said that Chile is the country with the largest reserves of copper resources in the world, which has contributed to the history of mankind. There is now a broad consensus in Chile on the need to address the climate crisis. Chile needs copper and lithium to realize the energy transition, and copper and lithium are strategic for the development of the electric drive sector and the production of clean energy.
She said that the core challenge for Chile is to develop a more sustainable mining industry, with closer ties to the communities and regions in which it operates, and mining based on good social relations. Chile is in the process of developing the National Mining Policy 2050, a new program that aims to set goals in four areas: institutional, economic, environmental and social. At the same time, Chile had initiated a national dialogue with civil society groups and indigenous communities to build shared values that would benefit the industry and the region. Exploration of resources required certainty, and Chile was creating clear conditions for the sustainable development of the industry and certainty of expectations for investment. By working together and creating joint mechanisms to combat climate change, we can make a significant contribution to the mining industry and the global economy.
Leopoldo Reyes, President of the Center for Copper and Mining Research in Chile, said that the world has been facing environmental, social and geopolitical challenges. As one of the key minerals in the fight against climate change, the copper industry is faced with extraordinary opportunities, and it has a responsibility to produce in accordance with strict ESG guidelines, also with reference to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In order to responsibly meet the demand for copper, it is particularly important to cultivate positive relationships with the places where it is produced and to address specific local issues. In his view, the speed and scale of the technological revolution had opened up enormous possibilities, but also brought with it a great responsibility to use technology responsibly, implement new skills and raise ethical standards of behavior. In that context, it was crucial to promote innovation along the value chain, to explore new technologies and to be open to revolutionary and innovative ideas.