British metals miner Anglesey Mining has announced it will resume drilling in the Northern Copper Zone of Parys Mountain in Wales, western UK. The area has not been mined since 1974.  

According to a progress report published by the company on Monday, six drill holes of a depth of 3,700m will be used to test the area before mining commences.  

An estimated 9.4 million tonnes of copper resources lie in the Northern Copper Zone at a grade of 1.27%, according to the company. Metallurgical testing will begin in late June, with mining to begin in August. 

The company states that it has conducted “environmental work” including day and night wildlife surveys. A groundwater study will be undertaken before mining commences. 

“The proposed drilling of the Northern Copper Zone is very exciting and could potentially lead to a significant portion of the deposit being upgraded into the ‘Indicated’ category, while also delivering some broad widths of copper mineralisation into a copper hungry market,” said Jo Battershill, CEO of Anglesey Mining, in a statement. 

According to the International Energy Agency, copper demand is set to increase by 40% before 2050 in line with a net-zero scenario. Copper is used in the manufacturing of electric vehicles along with other transition and electrification technologies. 

According to the UK Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy, access to transition minerals not only underpin the country’s “energy transition and key manufacturing industries” but also “underpin our national security”. 

“Previous drilling has identified very high-grade zones that are just a short distance from the Northern Copper Zone. Very few of the historical intersections were incorporated into the current mineral resource estimate, so any success on these zones could have very positive implications on future resource updates,” she added.