Name of the Project
Resolution copper mining (RCM) project.

Location
Arizona, in the US.

Project Owner/s
Resolution Copper Mining, owned by Resolution Copper Company (55%), a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, and BHP Copper (45%), a subsidiary of BHP.

Project Description
Resolution is one of the most significant undeveloped copper deposits in the world.

The project is slated to produce more than 40-billion pounds (18.1-million metric tons) of copper over its life and supply more than a quarter of US demand.

When fully operational, the project has the potential to supply nearly 25% of the US’s copper demand.

Potential Job Creation
The project is expected to create several thousand direct and indirect jobs in the Pioneer mining district of Arizona.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
Funding for the project is proportional among the project partners. Resolution Copper plans to spend about $500-million over the next two years on enabling work, including surface drilling, infrastructure upgrades and initial underground development activities. 

Planned Start/End Date
Rio Tinto aims to open the mine by the mid-2030s.

Latest Developments
Rio Tinto might need to export some of its copper concentrate, as a result of the challenging economics of smelting in the US.

Rio Tinto head of copper business Katie Jackson has said the company has not shifted its policy on keeping Resolution copper in the US, but has indicated that smelting in the country has become unprofitable. 

The company gained control of acreage needed to build one of the world's largest copper mines earlier this month after a years-long court fight in which rising US demand copper clashed with the religious rights of the San Carlos Apache people.

Rio has started a $500-million drilling campaign to study the 30% of the deposit it previously could not access.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Resolution Copper Mining, tel +1520689 9374 or email info@resolutioncopper.com.
Resolution Copper Mining project information line, tel +1520689 3409.