Digital prospecting mineral exploration company KoBold metals has revealed that it has discovered an immense store of copper in Zambia using complex Artificial Intelligence-driven technology, according to the New York Times. The company estimates the mine would produce at least 300,000 tons of copper annually once fully operational, yielding billions of dollars.

KoBold continues to conduct its search in Zambia and around the world to locate mineral deposits. The company’s recent discovery, the Mingoma deposit, rests a mile below the Earth’s surface. With the demand for copper soaring in the wake of the global green energy, this discovery positions itself as a major player in the supply chain.

The integration of this new mine could yield enough copper to produce 100 million of today’s average-size electric vehicle batteries. Although already proven as a potential leading copper producer, the company anticipates the value of the mine to grow with further mapping to reveal the full extent of its highest-grade ore.

However, the International Energy Forum estimated the world would need between 35 and 194 large new mines for copper alone through 2050, a need demanding for one to six KoBold-sized mines a year. With the increasing domination of A.I. and lack of copper-specific mines, scratching this essential itch may be difficult.

Currently, KoBold is pumping $2.3 billion into its first mine, in anticipation to meet the urgent growing need of critical minerals. The company is negotiating potential partnerships with contractors and governments, depending on the U.S. government to finance a new railway to export the copper. In terms of Zambia’s benefit to the project, the state mining company owns 20 percent of the project.

Additionally, this find has arrived at an essential time during heightened tensions between the U.S. and China over global access to much-needed minerals. As heat increases between the two nations, the U.S. government begins to pull away from outsourced reliance.
Continuously building crucial gadgets, KoBold strives to use its cutting-edge exploration technology to increase the pace of natural resource discovery, transform the search for metals critical to the tech industry and fight against climate change. Using their latest computer vision, machine learning, and data analysis, the company plans to locate additional deposits.