深度剖析：我国为何非常缺铜？

Core Viewpoint - China is currently facing a severe shortage of copper resources, which poses a significant challenge to its industrial development [1][9]. Group 1: Copper Resource Shortage Dilemma - China is the fastest-growing country in terms of copper demand, driven by rapid industrial development, particularly in the power and communications sectors [6]. - Despite being the largest producer and consumer of refined copper, China's copper mine reserves are insufficient to meet domestic demand, leading to increased imports [6]. - From 2010 to 2020, China's refined copper imports rose from 2.92 million tons to 3.627 million tons, an increase of 707,000 tons over ten years [6]. Group 2: Characteristics of China's Copper Mining - China's copper resources are concentrated in the southwest, northwest, and eastern regions, but most deposits are small-scale, with only 2.7% being large deposits [14]. - The average grade of copper ore in China is lower than the global average of 0.87%, with many deposits having been extensively mined [15]. - The complex terrain in which copper mines are located increases extraction costs and difficulties, necessitating significant investment in infrastructure and technology [15]. Group 3: Response Strategies - To address the copper shortage, China has accelerated overseas acquisitions of copper mines, with direct investments exceeding $16 billion from 2011 to 2021 [19]. - A notable example is the acquisition of the Las Bambas copper mine in Peru by China Minmetals Group for $7.005 billion, which significantly contributes to China's copper supply [21]. - China is also focusing on recycling existing copper resources from waste electrical appliances and construction debris, which can alleviate the shortage [22].