Our Product

The copper we produce is vital to our modern society and is used extensively in energy generation and distribution, building products and electronic equipment.

With its growing use in green-technologies, anti-microbial applications and its ability to be recycled, copper is playing an important role in creating a sustainable future.

Copper - a world of applications

Copper is one of the oldest metals known to man and a key component of every-day life, from the coins in our pockets to the powerlines that provide us with electricity.

Furthermore, its extensive use in ‘green’ technologies, such as solar cells and electric vehicles, ensures that copper will continue to play a key role in our sustainable future. 

Copper is conductive, durable, malleable, and eminently recyclable making it one of the world´s most useful natural resources.

In this section we highlight a few of the sustainable benefits of copper, focusing on its antimicrobial, energy efficient and anticorrosive properties.

Copper continues to have an enduring role in society:

• From the air conditioning in our buildings to the power lines that deliver electricity and the connections in our computers and mobile phones, copper is an essential element in everyday life
• Copper is an effective anti-microbial material. When cleaned regularly copper surfaces destroy 99.9 per cent of bacteria within two hours of exposure
• Copper’s extensive use in ‘green’ technologies, such as solar cells and electric vehicles, ensures it has a vital role to play in the future of a sustainable world.

Growing disposable incomes and a rising urban population are driving strong growth in demand for copper in the developing world, particularly in China and other parts of Asia.

Responding to demand

As the fourth largest producer and one of the world’s largest recyclers of copper and other metals from electronics goods, Xstrata Copper is well placed to meet growing demand.

Our projects under construction that will increase production by more than 50% to 1.5 million tonnes per annum over the next three years, while extending mine lives and reducing unit costs. Xstrata Copper will become a leading custom concentrate producer by 2015.