- The rise of AI has triggered an exponential growth in data-center construction and expansion, driving copper demand to unprecedented levels.
- Bell Canada has announced the construction of six new AI data centers in British Columbia, including one in Merritt, British Columbia, strategically located near Nicola Mining.
- The company recently provided updates on Craigmont exploration results, including drilling 14 holes with early findings revealing copper sulphide mineralization.
Copper’s superior conductivity makes it a critical metal in the artificial intelligence (“AI”) era, serving as the backbone of data-center infrastructure. Nicola Mining (TSX.V: NIM) (OTCQB: HUSIF) is positioning itself to meet escalating industrial demand through its New Craigmont Copper project, located in British Columbia, Canada.
The rise of artificial intelligence has triggered an exponential growth in data-center construction and expansion, driving copper demand to unprecedented levels. BHP estimates that copper used in data centers worldwide will increase six-fold by 2050, from around 500,000 tonnes annually today to three million tonnes (https://ibn.fm/5edV7). This projection is mirrored in supply-demand forecasts: the International Energy Agency and Bank of America predict that AI-related data centers may add an additional 200,000 tonnes of copper annually between 2025 and 2028, potentially pushing the global market into deficit (https://ibn.fm/yaKYX).
The impact is already being felt. Bloomberg Intelligence projects that North American copper demand from data-center development could increase by 1.1 to 2.4 million tonnes by 2030, fueled by a power-hungry AI build-out (https://ibn.fm/8EAA4). Macquarie Research supports these projections, estimating that between 330,000 and 420,000 tonnes of copper will be consumed by data-center construction globally by 2030 (https://ibn.fm/M2dbD). Such demand is driven not only by power delivery components but also by network connectivity and cooling infrastructure, all areas where copper’s electrical and thermal properties are indispensable.
As further evidence of the booming data center growth, telecom giant Bell Canada has announced the construction of six new AI data centers (https://ibn.fm/xoVmT) in British Columbia, as the company focuses on creating a data center “supercluster.” The first center will be located in Kamloops, with the second center slated for Merritt by the end of the year. The Merritt location will be situated on a five-acre site adjacent to the town’s municipal airport and will provide 7 megawatts (“MW”) of AI computing capacity.
This announcement confirms the strategic location of Nicola Mining, which is located in the Merritt community. The company is committed to meet the copper industrial demand surge while it continues to develop its copper asset at its New Craigmont property, which shares a regional geological setting with Highland Valley Copper District, the largest copper producer in Canada (https://ibn.fm/YZhcn). In addition, partly because of New Craigmont’s historic success, other surrounding copper mines have been developed, turning BC into a significant source of copper for global markets.
Nicola’s New Craigmont Copper project is making significant strides, with the company completing a comprehensive 3D induced polarization (“IP”) geophysical survey to better define its primary exploration targets, specifically the MARB-CAS Zone and the West Craigmont Zone. This survey led directly to the launch of a 5,000-metre diamond drilling program, marking the first drilling in these zones. The program’s initial phase included four holes totaling approximately 1,500 meters, testing discoveries from the IP survey and targeting conductive anomalies indicative of copper-rich mineralization “peripheral to a porphyry system” (https://ibn.fm/WllCI).
Since then, Nicola has delivered updates on its exploration results, including drilling 14 holes (4,872 meters), with early findings revealing chalcopyrite (copper sulphide) mineralization (https://ibn.fm/Igrxf). The exploration program focused on newly identified zones and areas adjacent to historic targets. The drilling across the MARB and CAS zones demonstrates consistent mineral presence in volcanic and intrusive host rocks.
The New Craigmont project also benefits from robust historical infrastructure. Originally produced from 1961 to 1982 on both open-pit and underground bases, this high-grade skarn deposit yielded an estimated 887.8 million pounds of copper (https://ibn.fm/nNBW9). A successful exploration program at New Craigmont could lead to the project once again becoming part of North American supply.
Nicola now holds 100% ownership of more than 10,900 hectares of claims and leases, including the fully permitted Permit M-68 for its mill and mine. Located adjacent to Teck’s Highland Valley Copper mine and serviced by BC’s power grid, New Craigmont’s infrastructure includes mine shafts, road access, water rights and provincial permits, all contributing to reduced costs and an accelerated timeline to production.
The broader mining complex in British Columbia offers strategic advantages. The region boasts established transportation, skilled labor and regulatory clarity, all hallmarks that facilitate more efficient mine operations. Nicola is leveraging these assets to reduce project risk and speed up commercialization. The company also highlights the proximity to export infrastructure, which supports global distribution of concentrate, a key element as demand continues to grow in North American and Asian markets tied to AI development.
For more information, visit www.NicolaMining.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to HUSIF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/HUSIF
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