Copper's Strategic Shift Creates Opportunities for Junior Mining Companies

The transformation of copper from an industrial commodity to a strategic investment asset is creating significant opportunities for junior mining companies with promising projects and processing capabilities. This shift is driven by massive global infrastructure spending and copper's essential role in clean-energy technologies and grid modernization. The International Energy Agency projects global power grid investment will exceed $400 billion in 2025, building on record spending of $390 billion in 2024, creating unprecedented demand pressures for the conductive metal.

Nicola Mining Inc. stands to benefit from this market transformation through its growing project portfolio in British Columbia and custom milling operations that serve the evolving metals market. The company maintains a 100%-owned mill and tailings facility near Merritt, British Columbia, which represents the only permitted third-party processing facility in the province. This custom mill can process both gold and silver mill feed through gravity and flotation processes, providing critical infrastructure for regional mining operations while positioning the company to capitalize on copper's ascendancy.

The company's asset base includes the New Craigmont Copper Project, a high-grade copper property adjacent to what was historically Canada's largest copper mine. This 100%-owned project positions Nicola Mining to benefit from copper's critical role in the global energy transition, which has elevated it to what industry observers call the gold standard for strategic investments. According to industry analysis available at https://ibn.fm/ailHv, Nicola Mining brings both mission and method to a sector defined by urgency and opportunity.

Beyond its copper focus, Nicola Mining has secured Mining and Milling Profit Share Agreements with high-grade gold projects, diversifying its revenue streams while maintaining focus on copper opportunities. The company's Treasure Mountain Silver Project, also 100%-owned and located nearby, adds further precious metals exposure to its portfolio. This strategic positioning allows the company to benefit from multiple commodity trends while the clean energy transition drives copper demand to new heights amid evolving supply dynamics.

The convergence of copper's strategic importance, clear demand pressures from infrastructure spending, and supply challenges creates favorable conditions for companies with both promising copper assets and processing capabilities. Junior mining companies with these attributes stand to benefit significantly as global investment in power grids and clean energy infrastructure continues to accelerate. Nicola Mining's combination of milling infrastructure and copper project development positions the company to participate in this growing market opportunity as copper solidifies its position as an essential component of the global energy transition.