The US DoE has finally added copper to its critical minerals assessment, following every other major source of demand including the EU, China, Japan, India, and Canada. This follows the US Geological Survey rejecting the addition of copper to the country’s critical minerals list after a request from the Copper Development Association (CDA) 5 months ago. The critical minerals assessment is used to inform the US Geological Survey (USGS) critical minerals list of energy-specific critical and near-critical minerals through 2035, as well as to inform research priorities. The DoE has so far recommended a classification of near-critical for copper despite a broad consensus of imminent demand increases from the new energy sector and from continued global industrialization. While the CDA…