Microbe Probiotics Could Save the Copper Shortage—But Will Mines Trust the Science?

As AI and EVs fuel a copper shortage by 2040, a startup is trying to mine more of the metal using probiotics—literally. Global copper demand could exceed supply by 25% by 2040 due to AI infrastructure and EV growth, creating a critical need for innovative extraction methods.

Transition Metal Solutions claims 90% copper extraction in lab tests using microbial additives—far surpassing traditional methods’ 60% efficiency. Sasha Milshteyn, CEO of Transition Metal Solutions, said: "We’re leaving 65% of material behind at typical mines."

The startup raised $6M in seed funding to scale its microbial "probiotics" for copper extraction, targeting microbial communities in heap leach piles with inorganic additives found at mining sites.

However, real-world performance lags behind lab results. Field trials project 50-70% extraction rates, compared to current methods’ 30-60%. Mine managers must navigate third-party metallurgy validation and site-specific testing before adopting the technology.

The cost-benefit analysis hinges on whether a 10-20% production boost justifies the validation hurdles and performance gaps.