The next Mining Supply Shock

Mining, August 6, 2026

Processing plants, chemical supplies and logistics—not mines—are the most likely source of the next critical mineral supply shock, according to a GEM Mining Consulting study that challenges conventional mine-focused planning. The report identifies sulfuric acid as one of the industry’s largest hidden vulnerabilities because it supports copper solvent extraction-electrowinning operations, nickel high-pressure acid leach projects, cobalt co-production, hard-rock lithium conversion, rare-earth processing and battery precursor manufacturing. GEM estimates that more than 15% of global primary copper production, or about 3.6 million tons annually, depends on acid-leach routes.

Read about the Announcement in the Northern Miner