Copper demand is projected to surge 70% by 2050, reaching 50 million tonnes annually. Meeting this demand will require significant investments in mining operations worldwide. Here's an updated look at the world's top copper mines and their recent developments: 1. Escondida (Chile) – 1.28Mt – BHP, Rio Tinto, Mitsubishi/JX BHP just greenlit a $2B optimization project as part of a $10.8B plan. 2. Grasberg (Indonesia) – 816Kt – Freeport McMoRan, PT Mineral Industri Production is back on track after major weather setbacks last year. 3. Collahuasi (Chile) – 559Kt – Glencore, Anglo American, Mitsui Slight dip in output, but solid long-term growth plans are in place. 4. Kamoa-Kakula (DRC) – 437Kt – Ivanhoe, Zijin, DRC gov, Crystal River Achieved near-record output in March, powered by stable energy supply. 5. Buenavista (Mexico) – 433Kt – Southern Copper Expanded forecast for 2024, backed by new projects and upgrades. 6. Cerro Verde (Peru) – 430Kt – Freeport, Buenaventura, Sumitomo Freeport increased its ownership stake mid-2024. 7. Antamina (Peru) – 413Kt – Glencore, BHP, Teck, Mitsubishi Undergoing a $2B extension project to keep production going through 2036. 8. Tenke Fungurume (DRC) – 400Kt – CMOC, Gécamines Capacity now up to 450Kt copper and 37Kt cobalt after 2023 expansion. 9. KGHM Polska Miedź (Poland) – 395Kt – KGHM Delivered 3% YoY production growth and strong financials. 10. Polar Division (Russia) – 345Kt – Norilsk Nickel Output up 6.3% in 2024 with stable operations across key metals. With supply risks and geopolitical pressure building, this list is only getting more relevant. Source: https://www.mining.com/featured-article/ranked-worlds-biggest-copper-mines/