In the beginning was the Copper…

Series: Ukraine, Atlas shrugs. Incredibly abundant and awakening

Philosopher and historian Giambattista Vico, who was part of the Italian Enlightenment, was arguably the first to state that history does not advance linearly driven by progress but develops in repeating cycles.

The Chalcolithic Age (the name is made from two Greek words, "khalkos" and "lithos", meaning copper and stone) about 10,000 years ago marks the beginning of the use of metalwork technology along with stone tools. Copper was one of the first metals humans mastered, shaping coins, jewellery, tools and weaponry that fuelled societal advancement.

It looks like the New Copper Age might be coming. According to estimates, Copper could become the “Next oil” in the next decade or two.

Nearly 150 copper occurrences exist in the Rivne, Zhytomyr, and Volyn regions. It is regarded that Ukraine has about 30 million tonnes of copper in measured and indicated resources.

From 2017 to 2021, local and foreign investors were interested in copper mining projects in Ukraine, but political instability, corruption, and Russian aggression made them impossible to implement.

Once the Russian war ends and the rule of law inevitably prevails in Ukraine, developing these resources will become an attractive investment.