Clean energy drives massive BHP takeover bid [Video]

BHP’s multi-billion-dollar bid to buy rival Anglo American promises to be the largest mining merger deal in decades, and one driven by the race for cleaner energy and green metals.

Analysts say the rationale behind BHP’s near US$40 billion bid can be summed up in one word: copper.

A ready conductor of heat and electricity, copper has long been used in wiring, piping, industrial machinery and roofing.

But today it is increasingly used in solar panels, electricity networks, electric vehicles and rechargeable batteries.

Copper prices have increased about 400 percent in the past quarter century, and broke US$10,000 a tonne on Friday for the first time in two years.

Global demand is expected to grow by up to 2.5 percent …