Representatives from the world’s biggest copper producers had reason to celebrate when they convened in Santiago on April 15-17 for their annual conference. Global prices for the metal have climbed about 6% over the past year, while those for lithium and nickel have taken double-digit dives. All three have starring roles in the energy transition, the race to wean economies off planet-warming fossil fuels. But copper has a great many uses besides battery packs—it’s in indoor plumbing, cars and electrical wiring—which has helped buttress prices. Even the more conservative forecasters see demand growing by a third over ... (full story)