In a groundbreaking collaboration, BHP and SiTration an MIT spin-out, have launched a pilot program in Arizona aimed at extracting copper from legacy mining wastewater. This initiative marks a significant step towards addressing global supply constraints and meeting the surging demand for copper in power grid expansion and AI data centers.
The pilot program is set in the historic Globe-Miami mining district specifically at BHP’s Copper Cities facility. This site, which produced nearly 400,000 tons of copper between 1954 and 1975 with leaching operations continuing until 1982 is now managed under BHP’s Legacy Assets portfolio.
Innovative Technology and Pilot Program Details
SiTration’s innovative process has already demonstrated the ability to yield London Metal Exchange (LME) Grade A copper in bench-scale testing. This method operates without using chemicals or generating new waste, with an energy consumption below 3 to 4 kilowatt-hours per kilogram.
The initiative begins with a one-month trial testing continuous, autonomous copper recovery. A second phase, planned for later this year, aims to produce up to two tons of commercial-scale copper cathodes over a two-month period.
Addressing Global Copper Demand
Global commodity markets are facing significant supply constraints while demand for copper surges. Industry projections indicate that annual global copper demand will rise from 34 million tons currently to 50 million tons by 2050.
Brendan Smith CEO and Co-founder of SiTration, highlighted the potential of this initiative: “The American Southwest houses legacy mining water containing billions of dollars’ worth of copper. With global copper demand projected to grow by around 70% by 2050 to support the rapid buildout of energy infrastructure and data centers, tapping into these resources is an excellent pathway to bolster domestic supply chains while producing copper at the bottom of the global cost curve.”
BHP’s Strategic Shift Towards Copper
For BHP, testing low-cost extraction technologies is part of a broader strategic shift towards copper-driven expansion. In its latest financial results, copper overtook iron ore as the company’s primary profit driver for the first time on an annual basis.
Profits from BHP’s copper division surged 48 percent to US$18 billion accounting for 54 percent of its US$33 billion in total underlying earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, and amortization.
Brandon Craig CEO of BHP, emphasized the importance of copper: “Copper is the engine that is driving BHP’s growth.”
The pilot program not only aims to recover valuable copper but also to generate valuable technical and operational insights. Kevin Ramsay General Manager of Legacy Assets at BHP, stated, “The Copper Cities pilot provides an opportunity to evaluate an innovative approach to recover copper from mining-impacted water while generating valuable technical and operational insights.”
