BHP eyes revival of long-closed copper mines in Arizona

[Redator]

BHP (ASX:BHP), the world’s largest miner, is considering to reopen four long-closed copper mines in Arizona, the centre of the copper industry in the United States.

Chief executive officer Mike Henry that policy changes introduced by president Donald Trump encouraged BHP to expand its exploration efforts and review dormant assets in the state.

The potential restart would focus on the Globe–Miami region, where BHP also intends to reprocess tailings from the shuttered operations. Among the sites are the San Manuel–Kalamazoo mine and San Manuel smelter and refinery, which were suspended in 1999 and permanently closed in 2002.

The list also includes the Magma mine, acquired through BHP’s 1996 purchase of Magma Copper. The mine was later shut down, with its surface area converted into the base for the Resolution joint venture with Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO).

RANKED: Top 20 biggest copper mines 2025

Henry credited the renewed push to what he described as a “breathtaking level of ambition and urgency” in the US drive to secure supplies of critical minerals and reduce its reliance on China. “The more supportive attitude towards mining and the urgency behind getting mining up and going, is a very welcome shift,” Henry told the Financial Times. “The sector has never been more in the spotlight.”

The state’s most significant copper project remains Resolution Copper, held by BHP and Rio Tinto. The $2-billion development has been stalled for more than two decades while awaiting court rulings and final permits. Once operational, it could produce up to 1 billion pounds of copper a year, enough to meet roughly 25% of US demand.

Rio Tinto, which holds a 55% stake in Resolution, remains confident that Trump’s administration will grant the necessary approvals to move the project forward.