Happy September from Florence Copper! As we look forward to seeing some cooler fall temperatures soon, the team at Florence Copper is staying active as we continue to achieve major project milestones.
Florence Copper successfully produced the first copper cathode from our facilities at the end of February, marking the first major new source of U.S. copper production in more than a decade. As of June 30, we have produced 6.7 million pounds of copper using the innovative and proven in-situ copper recovery process.
Florence Copper is currently focused on ramping up our operations to full commercial production and expects to produce between 30 and 35 million pounds of copper this year. At full production, Florence Copper will have an annual production capacity of 85 million pounds of copper. This will expand U.S. refined copper production by approximately 5% over 2025 levels. We expect to reach this milestone in 2027.
We are proud to say all our copper is staying in the U.S. to supply domestic manufacturers, strengthening supply chains and national security.
Along with growing production, we also have grown our team and now have over 200 direct employees, with additional open positions still available on our website. Between January 2023 and today, the team has grown by more than 470%, and the majority of the new hires are local Pinal County residents.
As we reflect on these milestones, we want to thank you. Your support and partnership over the years have helped bring us to this point. We are excited for what’s ahead as Florence Copper continues to grow in our community and beyond.
