Headlines

• Copper market remained in small surplus in 2011
• CRU's 11th World Copper Conference
  
• European Commission Energy Roadmap 2050 examined
  
• New book on understanding copper published
  
• ICSG 2011 Statistical Yearbook
  
• Handball claims Copper Box legacy

Stories

Copper market remained in small surplus in 2011

The copper market recorded a surplus of 69.1 kt in January to December 2011, compared with a deficit of 175 kt in the whole of 2010. Reported stocks rose by 12.1 kt during December and ended the month 59.9 kt lower than at the end of 2010. No allowance is made in the consumption calculation for unreported stock changes. World mine production in January to December was 16.21 million tonnes, 0.5 per cent higher than in 2010. Global consumption for January to December 2011 was 19.51 Mt and the 2010 calendar year total was 19.37 Mt. World Metal Statistics February 2012 was published on 15th February by the World Bureau of Metal Statistics. www.world-bureau.com   

11th World Copper Conference in Santiago

CRU's 11th World Copper Conference is taking place during CESCO week at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Santiago, Chile from 16-18 April 2012. It is the copper industry’s event of choice, where copper people go to negotiate annual concentrates contracts and come to listen to supply, demand and investor forecasts. Over 600 delegates are expected this year. Confirmed speakers include: Hernán de Solminihac Tampier, Minister of Mining, Government of Chile; Andrew Harding, Chief Executive, Copper, Rio Tinto; Max Layton, Base Metals Analyst, Goldman Sachs; Robert Lind, Chief Economist, Anglo American Plc. There is also a new sulphuric acid session in 2012. Delegate registration will cost US$ 1,700 until 24th February. A 10% Registration Discount is being offered to Copper Worldwide readers. See VOL 2 NO 1 for details. www.crugroup.com/events/copper/

European Commission Energy Roadmap 2050 examined

The European Commission adopted its Energy Roadmap 2050 to deliver on the EU’s 2050 climate objective in December 2011. The Coalition for Energy Savings voiced concern over the energy scenarios’ assumptions and results, which it said are inconsistent with the fundamentals of EU energy policy, including the 20% energy savings target for 2020. Although the Roadmap acknowledges that higher energy efficiency in new and existing buildings is crucial, the scenario results for buildings are particularly misleading. They only amount to 47% energy savings in 2050, while 80% savings are estimated to be feasible with current technologies and cost-effective in this sector, according to the Coalition for Energy Savings. http://www.energycoalition.eu/

New book on understanding copper published

Understanding Copper – Technologies, Markets, Business is newly available in a 375 page hardback edition. This subjective study covers the whole value chain of copper, emphasising the connections in the chain and combining technical and commercial issues. The Author is Dr. Bernd E. Langner, whose 30 year copper industry career includes being on the Executive Board of Aurubis AG, General Manager of Prymetall, and on the Board of Directors of the European Copper Institute. His hope is that everybody who is engaged in the copper business should have this book, to know what is behind it. http://www.understanding-copper.com/

ICSG 2011 Statistical Yearbook

The International Copper Study Group 2011 Statistical Yearbook covering world copper supply and demand data for the period 2001-2010 is now available. According to ICSG data, world copper mine production rose by 18 % during the period from 13.6 Mt in 2001 to 16.1 Mt in 2010. Copper in concentrates rose by 16 % while SX-EW production rose by 28 %. http://www.icsg.org/

Handball claims Copper Box legacy

A campaign has been launched by the British Handball Association against the renaming on the Olympic Handball Arena to the ‘Copper Box’, which was its acquired nickname after construction due to the 3,000 sq m of external copper cladding – mostly recycled – to give it a distinctive appearance that will develop a rich natural colour as it ages. Organising Committee Locog hosted the first UK Government Cabinet meeting of 2012 in the Copper Box on the Olympic Park on 9th January. Handball is the most popular sport for women in Europe, and the second most popular for men. Britain has been given a wildcard into both Olympic Handball Tournaments. Comments welcome!