How one startup is using prebiotics to try and ease the copper shortage

The looming copper shortage, projected to hit critical levels by 2040, has raised alarms across various industries, including data centers and electric vehicle production. Current forecasts suggest that demand may surpass supply by as much as 25%, prompting significant investment in copper mining ventures. One notable player in this space, the AI-driven minerals startup KoBold, recently secured an impressive $537 million to exploit a copper deposit in Zambia. However, another startup, Transition Metal Solutions, is taking a unique approach to enhance copper production. The company claims it can increase output by 20% to 30% by utilizing innovative additives to optimize the performance of microbes used in the extraction process. This method is likened to using prebiotics to enhance microbial efficacy in copper mining. Transition Metal Solutions has successfully raised $6 million in seed funding, with Transition Ventures leading the investment, alongside contributions from multiple firms including Astor Management AG and Climate Capital. This funding will help the company scale up its technology. Microbes have long played a pivotal role in the extraction of copper, converting it from its mineral form into a purer state. Historically, companies have isolated and engineered microbial strains believed to boost copper yield, but this approach has often yielded short-lived results. Sasha Milshteyn, co-founder and CEO of Transition, believes this method is flawed. He points out that microbes thrive in diverse communities rather than as isolated entities. Transition's strategy involves enhancing the entire microbial community rather than focusing solely on individual strains. By applying low-cost, inorganic compounds found at mining sites, the company aims to improve the overall functionality of these microbial populations. Early lab tests have shown promising results, with Transition achieving a 90% copper extraction rate from ore samples, compared to the typical 60% extraction using traditional methods. While the success rate may dip slightly outside laboratory conditions, Milshteyn is confident that their approach can yield a copper recovery rate of at least 50% to 70% in real-world applications. Each mining site presents a unique microbial landscape, and Transition plans to customize its additives based on preliminary analyses. For Transition Metal Solutions to gain traction in the industry, it must demonstrate the effectiveness of its solution. The company intends to partner with a respected third-party metallurgy lab to validate its claims. Milshteyn emphasizes the importance of third-party verification, stating, "Without third-party results, nobody’s going to believe you." The seed funding will facilitate this phase of testing, paving the way for potential deployment at copper mines globally. The current mining practices leave a significant amount of material untapped, with estimates suggesting that 65% of copper could be left behind. Transition hopes to change that narrative by maximizing extraction efficiency and addressing the impending copper shortage head-on.