Florence Copper Launches First New U.S. Copper Operation in Two Decades

Florence Copper has made history by launching its first commercial-scale copper operation in the United States in nearly two decades. On October 6, the company began producing copper at its Florence facility, marking the debut of the world’s first commercial-scale in-situ copper recovery (ISCR) project. This innovative method extracts copper directly from underground ore deposits without the need for open-pit mining, blasting, or traditional tailing impoundments.

The Florence operation uses a network of injection and recovery wells to circulate a solution through the ore body, dissolving the copper underground and plating it into finished copper cathode sheets on the surface. This approach significantly reduces land disturbance, water usage, and greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional mining methods. Stuart McDonald, president and CEO of Trekor Metals, the parent company of Florence Copper, highlighted the project’s environmental benefits, noting that it uses about 78% less water and 65% less energy per pound of copper produced.

Since beginning commercial production in February, Florence Copper has produced nearly 7 million pounds of copper. At full capacity, the operation will generate 85 million pounds annually and 1.5 billion pounds over its more than 20-year lifespan. The project supports over 200 direct jobs and 800 total jobs in Arizona, contributing more than $4 billion to the state’s GDP over the project’s lifetime. The launch was celebrated with remarks from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, underscoring the project’s significance for domestic copper supply and economic development.

The timing of this launch is crucial, as global copper demand is projected to surge by 50% by 2040, driven by electric vehicles, renewable energy, and infrastructure modernization. Florence Copper’s production, all of which will remain in the United States, is positioned to help meet this growing demand while setting a new standard for environmentally responsible copper mining.