Cables
29
Cu copper

Copper
Odyssey

Copper, the first metal worked by man at the dawn of the Neolithic revolution and at the heart of the second industrial energy revolution at the beginning of the 20th century, is today one of the pillars of the ongoing energy transition.

Copper, the new
challenge of electrification

Between increasing shortage of resources and rising global consumption.

The electrical cable industry, which has already undergone many transformations in its long history, is facing a new challenge. At the same time, it is facing an explosion in demand for electricity, and therefore an expected increase in global copper consumption.

Copper, the new challenge of electrification

  • Increase in world demand for copper
  • Scarcity
    of mining resources
  • Composition
    of an electrical cable

Increase in world demand for copper

Weight in million tons (Mt)

Sources: Goldman Sachs / ICSG / Nexans Analysis

Scarcity
of mining resources

Annual production of
24Mt of copper and 10Mt of scrap for the next 5 years…

… for a 39Mt annual
copper demand in 2030

Sources: Goldman Sachs / ICSG / Nexans Analysis

Composition
of an electrical cable

40 to 80%
copper

Sources: Nexans

The life cycle
of an electrical cable

Improving copper recycling
and collection

Improving copper recycling
and collection

Integrating the metallurgy activity

Nexans is the world’s leading vertically integrated manufacturer of cables, with 4 metallurgy plants: Lens (France), Montreal (Canada), Lima (Peru), Santiago (Chile).

Improving copper recycling
and collection

Recycling its own copper waste

All copper waste undergoes a recycling process.

Improving copper recycling
and collection

Exploiting urban mines

Improving copper collection from the electrical networks of our cities and infrastructures.

For information

Nexans has been working with RecyCâbles (a joint venture between Nexans and Suez) since 2008. In 2023, 9,410 tons of cable waste have been processed within this facility.

I believe in inventing a new business management model, in which the circular economy will be replaced by circular performance. In other words, an ethical and circular model, but not one that is diminishing.

Christopher Guérin

CEO, Nexans

Nexans
goals

2024
>5%
recycled copper
2030
30%
recycled copper
The CopperMark obtained in 2023 for the Lens and Montreal sites certifying responsible copper production.
1 / 4