(12/04) INTERVIEW: Substitution Won't Dent 'Robust' Copper Price - Teck

April 12, 2011

Copper prices will remain firm in the medium term despite the threat of substitution, Teck Resources Ltd.'s (TCK) senior vice president for copper, Roger Higgins, told Dow Jones Newswires.

"We believe that the copper price is robust and it will support our projects. Certainly over the next four to five years production will grow more slowly, so it will be a solid price," Higgins said.

Copper prices have set a fresh all-time record of $4.6285 a pound earlier this year and remain close to those levels amid bullish market expectations of robust demand from China and a shortfall in mine supply.