Op-Ed: Recovering more metal from leach pads is mining’s quickest win

The op-ed argues that the quickest, lowest‑cost way for mining to boost near‑term metal supply is improving recovery from existing heap leach pads rather than building new mines. Uneven solution distribution on pads creates wet/dry zones that permanently reduce recovery; precision irrigation, monitoring and automation can increase extraction, cut water use and yield more predictable output. With the IEA forecasting large copper and lithium supply gaps through 2035 and a looming wave of retirements in the mining workforce, operators that prioritise recovery performance could unlock meaningful incremental supply across large operations. Market impact: this operational lever could moderate short‑term price pressure for base and critical metals (and, by extension, some precious metals), reduce the urgency for capital‑intensive expansions, and change near‑term supply/demand dynamics.