Raw materials

Copper is an absolute all-rounder. You'll find it in cabling, computer connections and wind turbines, since it is particularly conductive. Copper is also used for drinking water pipes and sanitary fittings. Finally, as an alloy, it is resistant to high temperatures and corrosion. According to the IEA*, some 25.8 megatonnes of copper were needed in 2023. In 2050, the demand is expected to reach around 40 megatonnes*, and the upward trend looks set to continue.  We extract this raw material from copper ore. We mine and process it in South America and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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Nickel is found in many things – such as in aircraft and rocket engines, in the batteries that power laptops, toys, kitchen appliances and DIY tools. But it is also used in breweries' beer tanks, thermos flasks and in Swiss coins. Nickel is often invisible. That's because it is mostly used in small quantities to make alloys. Yet it has a huge impact. Batteries in EVs have become more powerful. Even at high temperatures, engines do not melt. And stainless steel does not corrode when it is used in cooking or as a construction material. As a side note, approximately 70% of nickel is used in the worldwide production of stainless steel. Our nickel operations are located in Canada, Australia and Norway.

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Zinc is estimated to be the fourth most commonly used metal by industry after iron, aluminium and copper. As a coating, it helps to protect steel and iron from rust. This makes zinc important for the infrastructure behind renewable energy, such as offshore wind turbines. But it is also found in aerospace technology, buildings, vehicles and nearly every household. Electrical appliances and the circuit boards of mobile phones often contain zinc, as do pharmaceutical products and cosmetics.

Zinc is mostly found trapped in ores. We extract, process, smelt and refine these ores. Various recycling processes also make it possible to reuse zinc.

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As we move towards a low-carbon economy, cobalt is an essential raw material. Electric mobility, renewable energy systems and electronic devices such as laptops and mobile phones often depend on cobalt. After all, this metal offers a whole range of useful qualities. One example is that it protects rechargeable batteries from overheating, making them safer and longer-lasting. It also increases the robustness of tools and enhances the strength, toughness and conductivity of materials. Cobalt is not usually found in its pure form, but as a by-product of copper and nickel production. We extract and process cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Australia, in Canada and in Norway.

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Coal is a combustible sedimentary rock formed from organic matter in the ground over millions of years. In addition to a great deal of time, this process required pressure, heat and complete airtightness. Coal was already being mined in the United Kingdom and mainland  Europe by the end of the 12th century. By the 19th century, coal had become a driving force for the economy as a source of energy. For many countries, including Switzerland, coal was an important accelerator of development.

Today, coal provides the world with a dilemma, as, on the one hand, the fossil fuel is one of the largest sources of CO₂ emissions. On the other, coal remains a key element in the production of electricity, cement, steel and chemicals. In 2022, it is estimated that approx. 36% of global electricity was generated from thermal coal, approx. 90% of the world's cement was produced using coal, and about 70% of global steel production was dependent on coal.

Our coal operations are located in Australia, Canada, South Africa and Colombia. 

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Crude oil is a complex mix of more than 17,000 organic components. It is stored in the Earth's crust, from where it is extracted. Various oil products are obtained through industrial processing (refining). These are primarily fuels such as petrol and diesel for vehicles, as well as jet fuel, heating oil and liquefied petroleum gas. We mainly source oil that is used as energy. 

Byproducts of oil production also include asphalt, paraffin and lubricants – all of which are used in everyday life.  Roads are made from asphalt, while paraffin is used to make candles and creams, among other things. Lubricants are needed in mechanical parts. Gearboxes in machines, for example. In the chemicals industry, crude oil is often required to produce plastics. Oil remains one of the world's most important commodities and, as there is currently no mature technology that can replace it across the board, it will continue to play a major role. 

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