Resolution Copper: Water Management and Reclamation

Ryan Ewing, Operations and Maintenance Manager, Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO)

Resolution Copper is permitting one of the world’s largest untapped copper deposits in Superior, Arizona. Once in operation, the mine could supply up to one-quarter of the nation’s copper demand, providing a vital resource for America’s clean energy transformation.

We take water conservation seriously. At Resolution Copper, we’re committed to transparency and constant improvement when it comes to water use, seeking ways to implement state-of-the-art technology to help further minimize our water needs in the long term.

As we were sinking the two mine shafts on-site, the water we removed from 7000 feet below the ground in bedrock went through an on-site treatment process and was then sent to an irrigation district where farmers use it to grow crops. By beneficially using our treated water, farmers pump less, leaving more water in the ground. Continuous monitoring ensures the water meets regulatory standards. Since 2009, Resolution Copper has provided approximately six billion gallons of water to local farmers. In early 2022 the mine installed a reverse osmosis plant to treat a portion of the water to a potable standard which allowed them to use it at the remaining facilities still on site.

“At maximum production, Resolution Copper’s current design will use approximately five gallons of water per pound of copper, compared to approximately 10-50 gallons of water per pound of copper produced in other mines around Arizona”

At maximum production, Resolution Copper’s current design will use approximately five gallons of water per pound of copper, compared to approximately 10-50 gallons of water per pound of copper produced in other mines around Arizona.

Along with water preservation, the Resolution team has also invested $75 million in reclamation activities on site to safely close the old Magma Copper tailings and the remaining infrastructure. One of the larger buildings removed was the smelter which bordered the town of Superior.

During these activities, the team worked closely with neighboring communities to help develop and grow local companies to meet the needs of the reclamation project.

Leveraging Rio Tinto’s safety culture and contractor learnings from other global sites, Resolution Copper was able to work with these companies and support them to be sustainable and successful. These local companies were, in turn, able to recruit and train locally and source supplies within the community, providing the maximum benefit to the surrounding area.

The demand for skilled operators, trades, or professionals continues to grow and is challenging the mining industry. The approach Resolution Copper has decided to take is to develop as much local capability and skills as possible with the surrounding area and Native American tribes. The mine is working on future designs and capability, knowing that as they grow, it will be important that the community grows with them to be successful.

I am excited about the future of Resolution Copper. This deposit is a gift for Arizona and the United States. When the mine is fully operational, Resolution Copper expects to directly employ about 1,500 workers, paying around $134 million per year in total compensation. The project will also generate approximately 2,200 indirect jobs, meaning it could support some 3,700 jobs.

Studies show Resolution Copper could produce up to $61 billion in economic value for Arizona over the 60-year life of the project. Resolution Copper will boost state and local tax revenues by between $88 million and $113 million per year, while the federal government could see an extra $200 million in tax revenues per year.

Copper is an essential component in mobile devices, medical equipment, and clean energy technologies, and demand is growing worldwide. In fact, the World Bank estimates global copper demand could rise by 200% by 2050. Having a steady home-grown copper supply will be a competitive advantage for U.S. manufacturing companies.