By Elizabeth Knight
Publication Date: 2026-01-12 04:43:00
Merger talks between Rio Tinto and Glencore to create the world’s largest mega-mining company underscore the fascinating story of two commodities. The world’s most sought-after metal, copper, is driving this deal, but restoring coal’s image is an interesting side benefit.
Make no mistake, the North Star guiding this potential corporate consolidation is the prospect of securing a larger piece of copper, the future-oriented raw material fundamental to electrification, artificial intelligence data centers and the global energy transition.
The desire for copper was also the reason for BHP’s failed attempt last year to buy UK-based Anglo-American, and also motivated the subsequent and successful merger of Anglo and…
