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Released July 16, 2025 | SUGAR LAND
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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Global mining giant Rio Tinto (London, England) said last week it has a "strong desire" to invest more in U.S. copper, which comes after President Donald Trump announced a plan to impose a 50% tariff on imported copper.
"There is increasing recognition by the U.S. government of the need for domestic sources of copper and other critical materials to support manufacturing and to power the country's energy future," said Katie Jackson, chief executive of Rio Tinto's copper division, in an emailed statement to media outlets. "We have a strong desire to invest more in American copper and we see significant opportunities to grow our business in the United States."
Copper is a critical material used in various high-profile products and sectors that stimulate the U.S. economy, such as semiconductors, data centers and lithium-ion batteries, among others.
Earlier this month, Trump announced a 50% tariff on imported copper, most of which comes from Chile, Peru and Canada, effective August 1.
"A 50% copper tariff will have a significant impact to supply chains," Joseph Govreau, Industrial Info's vice president of research for the Metals & Minerals Industry, said recently. "International mining and refining projects will be delayed due to market uncertainty, and some domestic projects may benefit from reshoring."
For more information, see July 11, 2025, article - Trump's 50% Copper Tariff Announcement Roil Markets, Downstream Industries.
Rio Tinto did not comment on the size of the potential investment or any specific projects, but Industrial Info is tracking its major copper efforts in the U.S. This includes the proposed Resolution Underground Copper Mine Restart in Superior, Arizona. Rio owns 50% of the mine and serves as the full operator, while BHP Group (Melbourne, Australia) has a 45% stake.
Resolution could become a major copper mine in North America, with Rio Tinto estimating it could extract up to 500,000 tons per year of copper concentrate from 43.2 million tons per year of ore over a 40-year mine life.
In April, the Trump administration said it would speed up the permitting process for the project, and the next month, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal blocking Resolution's development--paving the way for construction to begin.
The U.S. Federal Permitting Dashboard indicates the environmental review and permitting process is underway, with an estimated completion date of February 13, 2026. Industrial Info is tracking the project with a medium probability (70-80%) of kicking off in April 2026. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Metals & Minerals Project Database can click here to read the project report.
Other U.S. investment from Rio Tinto includes a US$1.5 billion Phase II extension and upgrade project at the 400,000 ton-per-day open-pit Bingham Canyon mine--which is part of the company's Kennecott copper operation in Utah. The project is designed to extend the mine life to 2032 and deliver an additional 1 million tons of refined copper. Phase II entails pushing back and deepening its southern wall into a new ore area, along with a series of upgrades and revamps. Industrial Info is tracking the project with a completion date around the end of the year.
Another effort under construction to extend the mine's life is an approximately US$500 million mine addition and upgrade project, which entails developing the North Rim Skarn deposit as a 250,000-ton-per-day block-cave/longhole underground stoping mine that will operate concurrently with a 150,000-ton-per-day open pit operation. The project is expected to wrap up by the end of 2026.
Subscribers can learn more from Industrial Info's reports on the Phase II and mine addition and upgrade projects.
Subscribers can click here for a full list of Rio Tinto projects across the globe, which also feature aluminum and lithium production.
In a release announcing the miner's first-quarter production results, Rio Tinto confirmed it plans to spend US$11 billion in 2025, which includes the "initial view" of the "capital profile" of its newly acquired company Arcadium Lithium--one of the world's largest lithium producers. The acquisition will expand Rio Tinto's lithium assets in Argentina. For more information, see March 10, 2025, article - Rio Tinto Completes Arcadium Lithium Acquisition.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Project and Plant databases can click here for a full list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article, and click here for a full list of related plant profiles.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
"There is increasing recognition by the U.S. government of the need for domestic sources of copper and other critical materials to support manufacturing and to power the country's energy future," said Katie Jackson, chief executive of Rio Tinto's copper division, in an emailed statement to media outlets. "We have a strong desire to invest more in American copper and we see significant opportunities to grow our business in the United States."
Copper is a critical material used in various high-profile products and sectors that stimulate the U.S. economy, such as semiconductors, data centers and lithium-ion batteries, among others.
Earlier this month, Trump announced a 50% tariff on imported copper, most of which comes from Chile, Peru and Canada, effective August 1.
"A 50% copper tariff will have a significant impact to supply chains," Joseph Govreau, Industrial Info's vice president of research for the Metals & Minerals Industry, said recently. "International mining and refining projects will be delayed due to market uncertainty, and some domestic projects may benefit from reshoring."
For more information, see July 11, 2025, article - Trump's 50% Copper Tariff Announcement Roil Markets, Downstream Industries.
Rio Tinto did not comment on the size of the potential investment or any specific projects, but Industrial Info is tracking its major copper efforts in the U.S. This includes the proposed Resolution Underground Copper Mine Restart in Superior, Arizona. Rio owns 50% of the mine and serves as the full operator, while BHP Group (Melbourne, Australia) has a 45% stake.
Resolution could become a major copper mine in North America, with Rio Tinto estimating it could extract up to 500,000 tons per year of copper concentrate from 43.2 million tons per year of ore over a 40-year mine life.
In April, the Trump administration said it would speed up the permitting process for the project, and the next month, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal blocking Resolution's development--paving the way for construction to begin.
The U.S. Federal Permitting Dashboard indicates the environmental review and permitting process is underway, with an estimated completion date of February 13, 2026. Industrial Info is tracking the project with a medium probability (70-80%) of kicking off in April 2026. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Metals & Minerals Project Database can click here to read the project report.
Other U.S. investment from Rio Tinto includes a US$1.5 billion Phase II extension and upgrade project at the 400,000 ton-per-day open-pit Bingham Canyon mine--which is part of the company's Kennecott copper operation in Utah. The project is designed to extend the mine life to 2032 and deliver an additional 1 million tons of refined copper. Phase II entails pushing back and deepening its southern wall into a new ore area, along with a series of upgrades and revamps. Industrial Info is tracking the project with a completion date around the end of the year.
Another effort under construction to extend the mine's life is an approximately US$500 million mine addition and upgrade project, which entails developing the North Rim Skarn deposit as a 250,000-ton-per-day block-cave/longhole underground stoping mine that will operate concurrently with a 150,000-ton-per-day open pit operation. The project is expected to wrap up by the end of 2026.
Subscribers can learn more from Industrial Info's reports on the Phase II and mine addition and upgrade projects.
Subscribers can click here for a full list of Rio Tinto projects across the globe, which also feature aluminum and lithium production.
In a release announcing the miner's first-quarter production results, Rio Tinto confirmed it plans to spend US$11 billion in 2025, which includes the "initial view" of the "capital profile" of its newly acquired company Arcadium Lithium--one of the world's largest lithium producers. The acquisition will expand Rio Tinto's lithium assets in Argentina. For more information, see March 10, 2025, article - Rio Tinto Completes Arcadium Lithium Acquisition.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Project and Plant databases can click here for a full list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article, and click here for a full list of related plant profiles.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
