IT SEEMS LIKE MINING IS THE EASY PART: ADDRESSING SOCIETAL ISSUES AS PART OF DEVELOPING THE RESOLUTION COPPER MINE IN ARIZONA
Located in Superior, Arizona, Resolution Copper is the third largest undeveloped copper deposit in the world with approximately 1.6 billion tonnes of ore at 1.47 percent copper. Resolution is a porphyry copper joint venture between Rio Tinto (55 percent) and BHP (45 percent) with Rio Tinto managing the project. The underground block cave mining project is currently in the pre-feasibility stage, with an estimated requirement for a capital investment of more than $5 billion dollars and approximately 9 years of permitting and construction prior to production in 2022. With a mine life of more than 40 years, the estimated economic impact to the state of Arizona is approximately $61 billion, with $19 billion in tax revenues going to the federal, state, and local governments.
Resolution integrates a technical design with social, environmental and regulatory aspects for a comprehensive project plan. Specifically, the presentation will review the guiding principles for social engagement described in The Way We Work, social and environmental measurements, metrics and reporting, economic impact assessments and mutual benefit agreements or licenses with communities and special interest groups.
For example, Resolution cooperatively worked with the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, The Nature Conservancy and Audubon to identify and acquire over 5300 acres of high habit and conservation value land to be traded with approximately 2400 acres of less critical US Forest Service land.