The demand of copper is still growing because prices flourished

Herriman, Utah – the demand for copper in the US should be doubled in the next 10 years – but the nation lacks production to satisfy this demand unless the steps are taken to facilitate the restrictions of new mines.

President Donald Trump He hopes that this will change after signing the executive command on Thursday to increase US mineral production.

“The United States has huge mineral resources that can create jobs, encourage prosperity and significantly reduce our reliance on foreign states,” the command reports. “The United States was once the world’s largest producer of lucrative minerals, but the superior federal regulation violated the production of the minerals of our country.”

The command will focus on priority minerals like minerals like Copper, Uranus, potassium and gold, among others. This is a welcome news for the National Copper Industry, which struggles to compete with the more relaxed mining regulations of other countries.

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“We have to create more mines. Open some of those resources we have right here in the US and bring them online,” Clayton Walker, Coo from Bakar in Rio Tinto, the second largest mining company in the world. “This then feeds production, people who actually take that raw material and turn it into something that is useful for consumers can enjoy it. So I feel like it’s just a critical path to produce production here in the US, everything starts in the mines with that raw.”

Rio Tinto has been trying to open a new copper mine in Arizona for 17 years, called a copper resolution mine. Officials say the mine could provide as much as 20% of demand. But over the years he has been obstacles to obstacles, including questions of the right to land and environmental care.

“The challenge we currently have in the US, it takes about 29 years for my mine to be allowed. And so I am all that I do right. And I think we have some of the best standards and the highest standards in the world, and I’m for that,” Walker said. “But we have to think of a way to bring those mines a little faster than, say, 29 years.”

One way to speed up the permit procedure: adding copper to the list of critical minerals.

The critical mineral defines Ministry of Energy Like, “any mineral, element, substance or material that is not fuel, or the material that the secretary of energy determines: (I) has a high risk of disorders of the supply chain and (II) serves an essential function in one or more energy technologies, including technologies that produce, transmit, save and preserve energy.”

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Adding copper to the list would facilitate limit to Copper production, which means that Rio Tinto and other companies could open new copper mines in the US faster

“I think we have to make copper as a critical mineral. It is not on the list and it prevents us from a valuable metal to get those necessary resources,” Walker added. “I think we got some great standards. Here we can do it better than anywhere. We just have to do it a little faster.”

Kennecott Rio Tinto, west of Salt Lake City, is the largest open PIT mine in the world, which extends to 2.5 miles depth and about 4000 feet. At more than 120 years, the mine produced more copper than any other on the planet.

“Kennecott’s history is what keeps me here. I’m only absolutely in love with that. Twenty -five percent of the metals used by the Allies used in World War II from here,” said Nate Foster, Director General Kennecotta. “Allies do not win in World War II without Kennecott.”

Kennecott also makes a difference in that it is one of only two locations in a country that can mines, smell and purify its own copper. For comparison, China has over 50 copper Topionice. This means that much of the copper who mined in the US is shipped to other countries to perfect.

“We are currently [the U.S.] In fact, it exports more than 400,000 tonnes of concentrate a year, which goes to other countries for cultivation and then returns to another form, “says Walker.

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Kennecott’s Tionica is an engineering miracle-on 1,215 feet, it’s the fourth lowest chimney in the world.

“The fact that we have one of the purest solutions around the world makes it actually quite unique,” Foster added. “And where we really think we are well positioned with very strategic property with our topics and refinery so we can help to continue … invest in America.”

Kennecott is an operation of 365 days, 24 hours a day. Ninety -seven over -sized transportation, capable of carrying 360 tons in one load, a working day and night to pull about 120,000 tonnes of copper ore a year, making 20% ​​of copper produced in the country.

The surgery is all performed in the house. After being mined and demolished, the ore breaks through a 5 -mile -long concentrator into a concentrator. Then it turns into a sludge and inserts into a topion. From the Topionica it becomes a copper plate of 700 pounds. After spending time in an electrolytic bath, he becomes two copper panels of 300 pounds-99.99% pure copper.

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“It’s the highest quality you’ll find anywhere in the US,” Foster said. “AND When you look at the amount of emissions that we do not have here in the US, because we produce some of the highest environmental standards, other heat around the world does not have to be in line with the same standards. So we are proud of that. “

Trump threatened to add 25% of tariffs In the imported copper, which makes up 47% of copper used in the US, while this could be a boon for copper mines based in the US, it is a complicated question for companies like Rio Tintto, which operate mines around the world.

“We work hard with the administration to be part of that solution. And if you look at the way the tariffs work, it is all in the way you set them and structure them, “Walker said.