The world faces a growing copper shortage as demand surges for electric vehicles, power grids, and renewable energy. By 2040, a 10 million metric ton gap could emerge between supply and demand, according to S&P Global. Traditional mining methods are struggling to keep up, prompting innovative solutions like bioleaching, a process that uses microbes to extract copper from low-grade ore.
Endolith, a Denver-based startup, is at the forefront of this effort. The company has partnered with KGHM Polska Miedz S.A. to deploy specialized microbes at Arizona’s Carlota Mine. These acid-loving microorganisms digest iron and sulfur compounds, releasing copper in a process that reduces the need for sulfuric acid, whose price has spiked due to the war in Iran. Endolith aims to extract at least an additional 10% of copper from low-grade ore, though the experiment is still in its early stages.
Endolith’s approach differs from traditional bioleaching methods by cultivating diverse microbial communities and adjusting their deployment based on real-time data. The company uses advanced DNA sequencing and AI to optimize the process, a significant improvement over past attempts. However, skeptics like Jaeheon Lee of the Colorado School of Mines question the feasibility of controlling the dynamic conditions within commercial leaching heaps.
Despite the challenges, Endolith has raised $23 million in venture funding and partnered with industry giants like BHP Group and Rio Tinto. The true test of its technology will begin in the coming months as the startup scales its lab-developed solutions to industrial applications.