ORIGINAL PAPER
Coupling geological exploration with anthropogenic cycles: a systematic approach to assess the dynamics of China’s long-term copper supply structure
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China geological survey development and research center
Submission date: 2025-12-15
Final revision date: 2026-01-19
Acceptance date: 2026-02-27
Publication date: 2026-06-22
Corresponding author
Yu Yun
China geological survey development and research center
Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi – Mineral Resources Management 2026;42(2):5-23
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ABSTRACT
China accounts for over 50% of global refined copper consumption yet contributes less than 10% of mine production, creating structural upstream vulnerabilities despite its massive midstream refining capacity. To address this imbalance, we developed an integrated system dynamics framework coupling a price-responsive geological exploration module with dynamic material flow analysis (MFA). Uniquely, this model endogenizes reserve replacement dynamics and accounts for discovery efficiency decay, enabling a realistic assessment of supply security under geological constraints (2025–2040). We evaluate three pathways: Business-as-Usual (BAU), Intense Extraction, and Circular Transition. Projections indicate refined demand peaks at ~17.8 million tons between 2030 and 2032. However, demand saturation fails to alleviate import pressure. Under BAU and Intense Extraction, the External Dependence Ratio (EDR) remains persistently above 60%, confirming a “smelting trap” where excess processing capacity necessitates chronic import reliance. Supply-side intensification proves inefficient due to diminishing returns from declining ore grades. Conversely, the Circular Transition scenario – leveraging China’s specific power-grid-dominated anthropogenic stock – elevates the secondary supply ratio to 35%, reducing the EDR to ~42% by 2040 without accelerating reserve depletion. We conclude that prioritizing “urban mining” infrastructure over greenfield exploration yields superior, sustainable risk reduction, highlighting the strategic imperative of shifting from a smelting-centric to a circular-centric paradigm.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The Author has no conflicts of interest to declare.
METADATA IN OTHER LANGUAGES:
Polish
Powiązanie badań geologicznych z cyklami antropogenicznymi: systematyczne podejście do oceny dynamiki długoterminowej struktury podaży miedzi w Chinach
struktura podaży miedzi, gospodarka o obiegu zamkniętym, wydobycie surowców z odpadów, analiza scenariuszy, surowce krytyczne
Chiny odpowiadają za ponad 50% światowego zużycia miedzi rafinowanej, a jednocześnie generują mniej niż 10% światowej produkcji kopalnianej, co powoduje strukturalną wrażliwość sektora wydobywczego pomimo ogromnych mocy przerobowych w sektorze rafinacji. Aby zaradzić tej nierównowadze, opracowaliśmy zintegrowany model dynamiki systemowej łączący moduł poszukiwań geologicznych reagujący na zmiany cen z dynamiczną analizą przepływu materiałów (MFA). Model ten w unikalny sposób uwzględnia dynamikę odnawiania zasobów oraz spadek wydajności poszukiwań, umożliwiając realistyczną ocenę bezpieczeństwa dostaw w warunkach ograniczeń geologicznych (2025–2040). Oceniamy trzy ścieżki: Business-as-Usual (BAU), Intense Extraction oraz Circular Transition. Prognozy wskazują, że popyt na produkty rafinowane osiągnie szczyt na poziomie około 17,8 mln ton w latach 2030–2032. Jednak nasycenie popytu nie zmniejsza presji importowej. W scenariuszach BAU i intensywnej eksploatacji wskaźnik zależności zewnętrznej (EDR) utrzymuje się na poziomie powyżej 60%, co potwierdza istnienie „pułapki hutniczej”, w której nadwyżka mocy przerobowych powoduje chroniczną zależność od importu. Intensyfikacja podaży okazuje się nieefektywna ze względu na malejące zyski wynikające z obniżającej się jakości rudy. Natomiast scenariusz „Circular Transition” – wykorzystujący specyficzne zasoby antropogeniczne Chin zdominowane przez sieć energetyczną – podnosi udział podaży wtórnej do 35%, zmniejszając wskaźnik EDR do około 42% do 2040 r. bez przyspieszania wyczerpywania się zasobów. Dochodzimy do wniosku, że priorytetowe traktowanie infrastruktury „wydobycia miejskiego” w stosunku do poszukiwań na nowych terenach zapewnia skuteczniejsze i bardziej zrównoważone ograniczenie ryzyka, co podkreśla strategiczną konieczność przejścia od paradygmatu skoncentrowanego na hutnictwie do paradygmatu opartego na obiegu zamkniętym.
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