As artificial intelligence fuels a surge in data centre construction globally, copper demand faces significant pressure while gold’s role in technology continues in niche high-reliability applications. Galantas CEO Mario Stifano explains the complexities of mining timelines and supply bottlenecks that could impact the tech sector’s growth.
- Copper demand set to double by 2030 due to AI data centre growth
- Gold vital for high-reliability electronics but overall demand stable
- Copper supply shortage risk of 25% by 2035 threatens tech expansion
What happened
Galantas Gold CEO Mario Stifano discusses how the rapid expansion of AI and digital infrastructure shapes demand for metals, especially copper and gold. He highlights Galantas’s projects in Chile and explains the distinct roles these metals play in technology and electrical systems. Gold remains important for specialized electronic components due to its conductive and corrosion-resistant properties, while copper underpins the broader electrical infrastructure essential to data centres.
Stifano points out that gold demand in technology stayed flat in 2025 despite AI growth, as manufacturers optimize designs to use less gold. Conversely, increasing electricity needs from data centres and electrification efforts are driving copper demand upward. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts data centre electricity consumption could double by 2030, underscoring the scale of copper needed in substations, cables, and transformers to support this growth.
Why it matters
The mining sector faces a critical challenge as the timeline from discovery to production averages nearly 18 years, creating a mismatch with fast-paced AI infrastructure investments. This gap threatens the timely availability of key metals needed for technological advancements. Copper, in particular, faces intense competition from multiple industries including utilities, electric vehicles, and industrial electrification, putting further stress on supply chains.
The IEA’s supply outlook signals a looming shortage, estimating a possible 25% shortfall in primary copper supply by 2035 under current policies. This supply deficit could increase costs, delay equipment delivery, and slow technology project rollouts, negatively impacting the broader adoption and scaling of AI and digital infrastructure.
What to watch next
Meanwhile, gold’s role as an essential, though relatively stable, component of advanced electronics suggests continued selective use in high-performance and reliability-critical devices. Stakeholders should watch innovations in material efficiency and substitution as manufacturers seek to balance cost and performance amid fluctuating metal availability.