Metals in the Cloud – Copper Series II From Mines to Megawatts: The Role of Copper in Cloud Computing and Hyperscale Growth

AI, cloud computing, and hyperscale data centres are surging. Behind every model and every megawatt sits copper, the quiet metal doing the heavy lifting for the digital age. The world’s growing dependence on copper in cloud computing is reshaping our perspective on infrastructure, sustainability, and the future of intelligent systems.

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The hidden metal behind the machine

Data centres are energy systems as much as they are information systems. Electricity flows through miles of copper cable, busbars, switchgear, and transformers that keep compute stable at very high loads.

This is not abstract. Industry analysis shows that copper intensity in modern data centres can reach tens of tonnes per megawatt and even higher for AI facilities that run hotter and denser than traditional sites.

The scale is expanding fast. Hyperscale operators ran about 1,136 sites at the end of 2024 and total capacity doubled in less than four years. As digital demand grows, copper in cloud computing has become one of the most critical enablers of sustainable data infrastructure.

Electricity demand is shifting, and copper demand follows.

Global electricity consumption by data centres is set to more than double by 2030, reaching around 945 terawatt hours, comparable to the total electricity use of a major industrial nation. AI-optimised facilities account for the largest share of that increase, and copper demand follows closely. The International Energy Agency projects that copper demand for electricity networks will rise from about 5 million tonnes in 2020 to 7.5 million by 2040 under current policies, and close to 10 million tonnes in a sustainable development scenario.

In energy systems, copper is a cornerstone material, efficient, durable, and hard to replace. Its expanding role in cloud computing and AI infrastructure reflects how deeply material science and digital technology are now intertwined.

Why copper, not something else

Copper conducts electricity up to 60 percent better than aluminium on a volume basis and delivers higher efficiency in dense environments where every watt and cubic centimetre count.

Across the clean energy assets that feed data centres, from solar to offshore wind, copper remains the common denominator. Research consistently shows that renewable energy installations require several tonnes of copper per megawatt because of cabling, transformers, and grid connections.

The global transition to green energy and digital infrastructure is, at its core, a copper transition. And the rise of copper in cloud computing shows that the future of technology is built not only in code but also in minerals.

The growing importance of Copper in Cloud Computing for sustainable growth

The link between digital expansion and material supply has never been clearer. Every new AI model, every data centre, and every renewable plant adds to t

As nations invest in data sovereignty, smart grids, and electrification, copper in cloud computing stands at the intersection of innovation and necessity. It is the bridge between power and progress.

From Zambia to the world

Zambia is stepping into this moment. National copper output reached about 820,000 tonnes in 2024, up roughly 12 per cent year on year, even amid power constraints caused by drought. The government has set a long-term goal of producing 3 million tonnes annually within the next decade. This target would solidify Zambia's position as a global supplier of critical minerals.

Momentum has continued into 2025, with first-quarter production up nearly 30 per cent year on year according to official data. Policy reforms and new partnerships are further positioning Zambia as a reliable and transparent producer in the global copper market.

Bbabsal’s position

At Bbabsal Mines Ltd, we see copper as more than a metal. It is the foundation of modern progress. From powering AI to strengthening the world’s clean energy networks, copper connects every layer of our digital and industrial future.

Our work is driven by a simple idea: mining must evolve with the world it supports. Bbabsal is building that evolution, a new kind of mining company that combines cloud technology, advanced analytics, and responsible development to extract value more efficiently and transparently.

We are developing new copper resources across Zambia’s Copper Belt with one goal in mind, to make Zambia a central pillar of the global supply chain for the intelligent economy. By integrating digital systems into every stage of exploration, processing, and logistics, we are turning raw data into smarter decisions, stronger performance, and measurable sustainability.

For our partners and investors, this represents more than growth, it represents resilience. For our communities, it represents jobs, training, and shared prosperity. For our planet, it represents a responsible path to meet rising demand without compromise.

Bbabsal is building the bridge between Africa’s mineral wealth and the world’s digital future, where mining fuels progress, technology drives efficiency, and integrity defines success.

The cloud is not weightless, it runs on metals

Every AI inference. Every streamed frame. Every encrypted packet. Each travels through networks anchored in copper. The future of data runs through physical materials, through grids and substations, through cables and transformers, through mines managed with integrity.

This is the work. From mines to megawatts, from Zambia to the world, copper powers the age of intelligence.

About Bbabsal Mines

Bbabsal Mines Ltd is building a sustainable future for African mining through data-driven exploration, responsible copper extraction, and international trade. With operations spanning Zambia and the United States, Bbabsal is creating a transparent and technology-enabled supply chain that connects Africa’s mineral wealth to global industries powering the clean energy transition.

🌐 Website: www.bbabsalmines.com📩 Contact: Adrian Sakala | adrian@bbabsalmines.com📩 Contact: Mweemba Ntembe | mweemba@bbabsalmines.com