Through its investment arm BMW i Ventures, the BMW Group has acquired a stake in Colorado, USA-based Jetti Resources. The aim is to promote responsible and resource-conserving copper mining in order to meet growing demands in a more sustainable manner. Founded in 2014, Jetti Resources has developed an innovative process for copper mining that utilizes previously unused ore from existing copper mines.
"By investing in Jetti, we are supporting technological advances in copper mining, with a focus on responsible and non-energy-intensive methods," says Wolfgang Obermaier, Head of Indirect Goods and Services, Raw Materials, Production Partners, BMW Group. "This new process has the potential to improve the environmental footprint and integrity of our supply chain, even with the growing demand for resources such as copper," adds Obermaier.
As copper is a vital raw material for the production of electric powertrains in electric vehicles, demand is projected to increase significantly in the coming years. As early as 2030, at least half of the BMW Group's global sales will consist of fully electric vehicles.
Use of existing resources
Jetti Resources has developed a unique catalytic leaching technology that enables the extraction of copper from previously untapped ores. Approximately 70% of the world's copper resources are sequestered in these primary sulphide ores. Material, previously stored in landfills and considered waste, can now be recovered by this new form of resource-saving mining.
This process allows the recovery of the trapped copper, thus significantly increasing the production and lifetime of existing copper production facilities. As a result, copper mining becomes significantly more efficient and reduces its environmental impact. Jetti Resources' method allows copper mines to use heap leaching of these ores, which causes approximately 40% less CO2 compared to traditional raw material extraction and uses only about 50% of water. The technology is already successfully applied on an industrial scale. Jetti Resources plans to promote its global expansion with its partners.
Responsible supply chain management
The BMW Group has placed sustainability and the efficient use of resources at the heart of the company's strategic direction. A key element is compliance with strict environmental and social standards in every part of their supply chain. Eliminating violations of human rights and environmental standards is a key priority for the supply of essential raw materials.
The BMW Group analyses and prioritises raw materials on an ongoing basis as part of its materials-related strategy. Potential risks arise primarily from the extraction and processing of raw materials and material categories. The BMW Group mitigates these risks with a combination of standardized, preventive and reactive measures, uniquely tailored to each raw material. In order to ensure the necessary transparency and traceability of raw material processing within the BMW Group's complex and dynamic network of suppliers, the latter participate in Catena-X, an alliance aimed at secure and standardised data exchange in supply chains.
