"Accelerating copper growth is the cornerstone of our strategy and, by growing our copper production, we rebalance our portfolio towards what's now called 'green metals,'" he said. Forecasts that call for world copper demand growth of three to 3.5 per cent per year are credible, Lindsay said, in view of its use in renewable energy as pressure rises for global decarbonization. He said the phone lines at Teck have been lit up by unsolicited offers from potential partners amid an expected copper supply shortage later this decade. "There are some interesting opportunities whereby we could bring on a partner and they build it with their capital and their people and we're left with half a mine or more for free," he said on the call.