Sparking copper demand

Growing global demand
for electric and hybrid
vehicles is good news for
the Walvis Bay corridors.
Transporter André van
der Walt of Swakopmundbased
A van der Walt
Transport says his
company can already
see signs that demand is
picking up.
Volumes of supplies for
the mines are growing,
along with copper exports
through Walvis Bay.
According to a study by
BHP Billiton, an average
conventional internal
combustion engine–driven
car contains about 20kg of
copper.
Hybrids use about 40kg,
while a pure battery-powered
electric car requires about
80kg.
BHP Billiton operates First
Quantum in Zambia, which
is one of the world’s biggest
copper mines. The company is
forecasting a copper shortage
by 2019.
Over the next five to 10
years there will be significant
growth in volumes on both the
outbound and inbound legs of
the corridors between Walvis
Bay and the Copperbelt, says
Van der Walt.