The world is racing toward electrification—but it’s running headfirst into a copper wall.

Veteran mining executive Ivan Bebek warns the coming copper shortage isn’t theoretical—it’s structural, unavoidable, and already unfolding beneath the surface of global markets. As governments push EVs, AI infrastructure, green energy, and modernization mandates, the physical copper simply isn’t there to support it.

And unlike past commodity booms, this one has no quick fix.

Copper Demand Is Exploding—Supply Is Not

Copper is the backbone of modern civilization. Every “green” initiative depends on it, yet the world has systematically underinvested in finding and permitting new copper mines.

Key realities investors are ignoring:

• Global population has doubled since the 1980s

• Electrification now drives:

  • EVs and charging grids

  • AI data centers

  • Crypto mining infrastructure

  • Grid expansion and rebuilding

• Average copper grades are falling sharply

• Major mines like Escondida are past peak production

“Everyone needs copper—they just don’t know it yet.” — Ivan Bebek

Unlike the 2000–2010 copper boom driven by China’s industrial rise, today’s demand is broader, deeper, and more permanent.

Why New Copper Mines Aren’t Coming Fast Enough

Finding copper isn’t the problem.

Getting it out of the ground is.

Ivan Bebek explains that permitting a world-class copper mine now takes 20–30 years—if it happens at all.

What’s changed:

• ESG regulations dramatically slow development

• Community and social consent now outweigh government approval

• Environmental standards are stricter than ever

• Capital costs have exploded

Even when copper is discovered, time becomes the enemy.

“It’s not the amount of copper—it’s how long it takes to get it into production.”

This guarantees persistent supply deficits, regardless of price.

The Global Copper Arms Race Has Begun

Who wants copper the most?

Everyone.

• China is racing to modernize its massive population

• India is rapidly industrializing

• The U.S. is rebuilding:

  • Aging homes and highways

  • Airports and cities

  • AI and digital infrastructure

Copper is no longer cyclical—it’s strategic.

And strategic materials don’t correct easily.

Copper Is the Future—Gold and Silver Are the Warning

Bebek’s perspective matters because he’s built companies across gold, silver, and copper.

His view is clear:

• Copper = future electrification and modernization

• Gold = geopolitical risk and currency distrust

• Silver = both industrial demand and monetary leverage

Silver’s potential move toward $100+ reflects years of suppression and underinvestment. Gold’s rise signals something more ominous:

“Gold is just beginning… I’m more worried about a third world war than any other risk.”

These metals are telling the same story from different angles.

What a Copper Shortage Means for Inflation and the Dollar

A structural copper shortage is inherently inflationary.

Why?

• Infrastructure costs rise

• Energy transition costs explode

• Governments print more to subsidize shortages

• The dollar absorbs the damage

This is why hard assets outperform in late-cycle economic stress.

Gold & Silver: Wealth Preservation When Systems Strain

While copper fuels the future, gold and silver protect against its consequences.

Historically, during periods of:

• Resource shortages

• Geopolitical instability

• Currency debasement

• Infrastructure stress

Investors rotate into tangible assets.

Gold vs. dollar is no longer a debate—it’s a trend.
Silver’s dual role as money and industrial metal makes it uniquely positioned.

These are not speculative trades—they are wealth preservation tools.

Conclusion

The world is not prepared for the coming copper shortage—and the economic consequences will ripple far beyond mining.

Copper exposes the cracks in electrification fantasies.
Gold exposes the cracks in the financial system.
Silver amplifies both.

Ignoring these signals isn’t conservative—it’s dangerous.

The question isn’t if shortages emerge.
It’s whether your portfolio is positioned before they do.

About ITM Trading

ITM Trading has over 28 years of experience helping clients safeguard their wealth through personalized strategies built on physical gold and silver. Our team of experts delivers research-backed guidance tailored to today’s economic threats.

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