Taseko’s Florence Mine Delivers First New U.S. Copper in 17 Years, Bolstering Domestic Supply

Canada-based Taseko Mines has achieved a major milestone with its Florence Copper operation in Arizona harvesting its first copper cathodes, marking the first new greenfield copper production in the United States since 2008.

The start-up of commercial production follows the late-February launch of Florence’s electrowinning plant, which transforms copper-rich solution into high-purity cathode metal. At full capacity, the facility is expected to produce 85 million pounds of LME Grade A copper annually, with a projected output of at least 1.5 billion pounds over a 22-year mine life.

This new supply is especially significant for the U.S., where copper production had remained largely flat amid rising demand from sectors such as automotive, semiconductor manufacturing, defense, aerospace, and data centers. All copper produced at Florence is slated to remain in the United States, helping reduce reliance on foreign imports and strengthening domestic supply chains.

Florence Copper also distinguishes itself as the first greenfield site globally to use in-situ copper recovery (ISCR) technology, a lower-cost and environmentally advantageous extraction method compared with conventional mining. Once fully operational, Taseko anticipates the mine will make it one of the top copper cathode producers in the U.S..

Company leadership has characterized the first harvest as a landmark achievement, underlining the project’s role in U.S. critical minerals strategy and the broader effort to secure domestic sources of essential industrial metals.