| Application area | Description |
|---|---|
| PGMS | |
| Automotive industry | Palladium, platinum, and rhodium are used as the active material in automotive exhaust gas catalysts to minimise the vehicles’ environmental impact |
| Hydrogen solutions | Platinum, palladium, iridium, and ruthenium are widely used in rapidly developing hydrogen technologies. Platinum group metals find application as catalysts in low‑carbon hydrogen production as well as for hydrogen purification, transportation, and use as an energy source in fuel cells |
| Chemical and petrochemical industries | Palladium, platinum, and rhodium are used as catalysts in chemical and petrochemical processes to boost process performance |
| Jewellery | Palladium and platinum are used in all kinds of jewellery, which is renowned for its beauty but also for durability |
| Electronics | Palladium is used as material for capacitors, motherboards, and other components, while platinum is primarily used in hard drives, and rhodium in coatings for connectors and contacts |
| Healthcare | PGMs are extensively used as catalysts in drug synthesis. Palladium has also found wide application in dentistry, while platinum is used in medical devices such as pacemakers and as an active ingredient in anti‑cancer medicines |
| Glass fibre and optical glass | Platinum and rhodium are used to manufacture bushings for making glass fibre and optical glass |
| NICKEL | |
| Mechanical engineering, chemical and petrochemical industries, and construction | Nickel is used in stainless steel production. Adding nickel as an alloying element to stabilise the austenite structure enhances steel’s corrosion resistance, high‑temperature properties, weldability, formability, and resistance to aggressive environments |
| EV batteries | Nickel is a key element used in the production of precursor cathode active materials for EV batteries. The dominating technologies include nickel‑intensive NCM and NCA batteries, owing to their higher volumetric and gravimetric energy density, which increases drive range. Nickel‑based batteries are also more recyclable and reusable than other types of batteries |
| Aerospace industry | Nickel alloys are highly resistant to heat and aggressive environments and are used in the manufacturing of aircraft engines |
| Renewable energy | Nickel alloys are used in wind, solar, and geothermal power generation |
| COPPER | |
| Automotive industry | The automotive industry uses copper in batteries, electric motors, inverters, wiring, and charging infrastructure. Transport electrification is expected to become a key driver behind copper demand in this decade |
| Construction and air conditioning and cooling systems | The construction sector uses copper in pipes and tubing, heating and cooling systems as well as in wall cladding. Electrical and communication cables are also mostly made of copper |
| Renewable energy | Copper is intensively used in the construction of wind, solar, and other types of renewable power plants |
| Electronics and home appliances | Copper is used in electronics and home appliances due to its excellent electrical and thermal conductivity |
| Network infrastructure | Copper is used in power generation, transmission, and distribution as well as in all types of wiring. A strong push for transport electrification and transition to renewable energy will require significant expansion of distribution networks |