Friedland Sees Copper as the ‘New Oil’ for Miners

Friedland’s copper new oil commentary has been making waves recently, and also grabbing attention from industry insiders as the veteran mining entrepreneur Robert Friedland continues to highlight the essential role of this metal. In a recent interview, the founder of Ivanhoe Mines emphasized that copper demand is, at the time of writing, reaching unprecedented levels in both the clean energy sector and, interestingly enough, in defense applications as well.
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Why Copper’s Soaring Demand Fuels Clean Tech and Green Mining

The copper demand and clean energy relationship has been growing stronger day by day, and right now this connection is fundamentally reshaping investment priorities across the global mining sector. Friedland’s copper new oil comparisons are actually apt, given how this metal now serves many of the same economic functions that petroleum once did.
Military Applications Reshape Metals Market
In a rather candid interview from last week, Friedland expressed significant concerns about western preparedness for this major shift in metals demand.
Friedland stated:
“Everyone in the American government — at the highest level — is completely concerned with the supply chain, and critical raw materials. They don’t have any of the metals that modern warfare requires.”
Green technology resources are increasingly competing with military industries for access to the same metals, and this unexpected dynamic is creating additional pressure on critical minerals supply chains globally. Battery metals mining operations have been expanding rapidly in an attempt to meet this dual-sourced demand.
Clean Energy Transition Drives Record Demand
During his recent media appearances, Friedland has repeatedly emphasized the overlap between military and civilian uses for copper.
Friedland explained:
“The military aspect is demanding a lot of the same metals, if not exactly the same metals, that the greening of the world economy also needs.”
Also Read: 80% of Americans Want Bitcoin in National Reserves Over Gold
This convergence of copper demand clean energy requirements with defense needs has created an unprecedented strain on global supply chains. Green technology resources development continues moving forward despite these constraints, but challenges remain on the horizon.
Supply Concerns Grow as Demand Accelerates
Critical minerals supply issues have been gaining increased attention from government officials and industry leaders alike. Battery metals mining faces significant expansion challenges as copper reserves become harder to access in many regions.
David Goldman, head of trading at the Novion Global brokerage, offered his assessment:
“Rising defence budgets and rearmament were increasing the copper demand from western militaries by between 15 per cent and 18 per cent per year.”
Goldman further noted this was a “critical factor underpinning the metal’s market tightness and long-term demand outlook.”
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National Security Concerns Drive Policy Shifts
Friedland’s copper new oil parallels also extend to important geopolitical implications. New mining opportunities are currently being explored in Saudi Arabia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kazakhstan as major companies such as BHP, Glencore, and Barrick Mining rush to secure additional copper assets.
The Carnegie Endowment think-tank recently published findings showing that US National Defense Stockpile inventories had “dwindled since the 1950s” and would cover less than half the military demand in a hypothetical one-year conflict, further highlighting critical minerals supply vulnerabilities.
Green technology resources and copper demand clean energy initiatives continue to drive unprecedented interest in battery metals mining investments, firmly cementing copper’s position as the “new oil” in today’s global economy.
Friedland Sees Copper as the ‘New Oil’ for Miners

Friedland’s copper new oil commentary has been making waves recently, and also grabbing attention from industry insiders as the veteran mining entrepreneur Robert Friedland continues to highlight the essential role of this metal. In a recent interview, the founder of Ivanhoe Mines emphasized that copper demand is, at the time of writing, reaching unprecedented levels in both the clean energy sector and, interestingly enough, in defense applications as well.
Also Read: Cryptocurrency: AI Predicts ADA, LINK, SOL & BNB Price 15 Years From Now
Why Copper’s Soaring Demand Fuels Clean Tech and Green Mining

The copper demand and clean energy relationship has been growing stronger day by day, and right now this connection is fundamentally reshaping investment priorities across the global mining sector. Friedland’s copper new oil comparisons are actually apt, given how this metal now serves many of the same economic functions that petroleum once did.
Military Applications Reshape Metals Market
In a rather candid interview from last week, Friedland expressed significant concerns about western preparedness for this major shift in metals demand.
Friedland stated:
“Everyone in the American government — at the highest level — is completely concerned with the supply chain, and critical raw materials. They don’t have any of the metals that modern warfare requires.”
Green technology resources are increasingly competing with military industries for access to the same metals, and this unexpected dynamic is creating additional pressure on critical minerals supply chains globally. Battery metals mining operations have been expanding rapidly in an attempt to meet this dual-sourced demand.
Clean Energy Transition Drives Record Demand
During his recent media appearances, Friedland has repeatedly emphasized the overlap between military and civilian uses for copper.
Friedland explained:
“The military aspect is demanding a lot of the same metals, if not exactly the same metals, that the greening of the world economy also needs.”
Also Read: 80% of Americans Want Bitcoin in National Reserves Over Gold
This convergence of copper demand clean energy requirements with defense needs has created an unprecedented strain on global supply chains. Green technology resources development continues moving forward despite these constraints, but challenges remain on the horizon.
Supply Concerns Grow as Demand Accelerates
Critical minerals supply issues have been gaining increased attention from government officials and industry leaders alike. Battery metals mining faces significant expansion challenges as copper reserves become harder to access in many regions.
David Goldman, head of trading at the Novion Global brokerage, offered his assessment:
“Rising defence budgets and rearmament were increasing the copper demand from western militaries by between 15 per cent and 18 per cent per year.”
Goldman further noted this was a “critical factor underpinning the metal’s market tightness and long-term demand outlook.”
Also Read: China to Promote Yuan For International Use, PBOC Governor Confirms
National Security Concerns Drive Policy Shifts
Friedland’s copper new oil parallels also extend to important geopolitical implications. New mining opportunities are currently being explored in Saudi Arabia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kazakhstan as major companies such as BHP, Glencore, and Barrick Mining rush to secure additional copper assets.
The Carnegie Endowment think-tank recently published findings showing that US National Defense Stockpile inventories had “dwindled since the 1950s” and would cover less than half the military demand in a hypothetical one-year conflict, further highlighting critical minerals supply vulnerabilities.
Green technology resources and copper demand clean energy initiatives continue to drive unprecedented interest in battery metals mining investments, firmly cementing copper’s position as the “new oil” in today’s global economy.