Ore inspired - [automation mining]

China is the world's biggest consumer of copper, aluminium, lead, nickel, tin, zinc and iron ore among other raw materials. Since 1999, it has consumed two-thirds of the world's growth in output of base metals, and since 2002 it has accounted for half the world's growth in consumption of steel, copper and aluminum, almost the entire world's growth for nickel and tin, and more than the world's growth for lead and zinc. And it is now at the stage of industrialisation where, if the record of other tiger economies is anything to go by, its demand for metals is about to become especially high. The article explains China's growth is fuelling an unprecedented demand for raw materials, which is forcing mining operators to increase production through improved automation and control.