Copper Recovery in Arizona for the Domestic Energy Supply Chain seeks to demonstrate direct-use, geothermal, clean heat to increase responsibly produced copper. This, combined with a microgrid and a battery energy storage system, will decrease the mines’ reliance on onsite thermal backup generators, reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the energy and climate resilience of local communities. Located at Arizona’s Morenci and Safford copper mines, this project aims to demonstrate a way to use naturally occurring, geothermal heat to increase copper yields from already mined material. The project could increase copper recovery by 25 million pounds annually with the potential to increase recovery up to 40%—depending on the geothermal resources. With copper demand forecast to increase, extracting these difficult-to-access resources can help secure our domestic clean energy supply chain. Freeport Minerals Corporation (FMC) is the selectee and plans to have this demonstration project serve as a blueprint to unlock follow-on investment at other copper mines across the country. At the local level, the communities surrounding these mines would benefit from lower energy rates and reduced power outages.
As part of its Community Benefits Plan, this project plans to create 121 construction jobs and 12 permanent operations jobs. FMC plans to work to continue strengthening its partnerships with hundreds of high schools, technical and community colleges, and universities to help students of all backgrounds access skills that will help them fully participate in this project and other economic benefit opportunities. The company will also continue to provide 300 annual higher-education scholarships for Native American students from 14 tribes to ensure access to quality jobs. FMC convenes Community Partnership Panels (CPPs) composed of diverse and representative stakeholders who regularly meet to ensure two-way dialogue and input. In recent years, the Greenlee County CPP voiced local concerns and interest in addressing the growing impacts of climate change in the region. In response, if this project is awarded federal funding, FMC plans to increase investments in multiple new climate resilience projects, including increased funding to Local First Arizona to finance projects focused on local climate and economic resiliency.
