Clayton Walker, CEO of Operations in the Rio Tinto Products Group, is the need for more copper and production mines in the United States
Herriman, Utah – The demand for copper in the United States is scheduled to double in the next ten years – but the nation lacks production to meet this demand unless steps are taken to reduce restrictions on new mines.
president Donald Trump Hope to change this after signing an executive order on Thursday to increase American metal production.
“The United States has vast metal resources that can create job opportunities, fuel flourish, and reduce our dependence significantly on foreign countries,” says. “The United States was one day the largest producer of profitable minerals in the world, but the arrogant federal regulations led to the erosion of mineral production in our nation.”

The Bingham Canyon mine, also known as the Kenikot Copper Mine, in Utah. (Rio Tinto / Fox News)
It will focus on priority projects for metals such as Copper, uranium, potash and gold, Among other things. This is welcome news for the country’s copper industry, which is struggling to compete with the most relaxed mining regulations in other countries.
ETF plays gold, silver, copper and everything between them
“We have to create more mines. Open some of these resources that we have here in the United States and prepare it online,” “Clayton Walker, Copper Director at Rio Tinto, the second largest mining company in the world.” This feeds manufacturing, and people who already take these raw materials and turn them into something that can be used for consumers. So I feel just an embarrassing path to make manufacturing again here in the United States, everything begins in mines with these raw materials. “
Rio Tinto is trying to open a new copper mine in Arizona for 17 years, called the copper mine. Officials say the mine can provide up to 20 % of the request. But it is traveling in roads over the years, including land rights issues and environmental concerns.
“The challenge that we are now facing in the United States takes about 29 years to get a mine. So I am all to do the right thing. I think we have some of the best standards and the highest standards in the world, and I am all for that,” Walker said. “But we have to know how to bring these online mines slightly faster than 29 years, for example.”

The Bingham Canyon mine, also known as the Kenikot Copper Mine, in Utah. (Rio Tinto / Fox News)
One of the ways in which its families can be in the process of permits: adding copper to the critical metal menu.
Critical metals are defined by Ministry of Energy Also, “any metal, element, material, or material is not specified by the Minister of Energy: (1) has a great risk of disrupting the supply chain; and (2) serves a basic function in energy technologies or more, including technologies that produce, transfer, store and preserve them.”
Adding copper to the list would reduce restrictions on Copper production, In the sense that Rio Tinto and other companies can open new copper mines faster in the United States

Copper cable packaging is monitored by the factory employee. (Dennis Charlit / AFP via Getty Images) / Getty Images)
“I think we need to make copper as decisive minerals. It is not in the list harm us and maintaining this valuable mineral from obtaining these necessary resources,” Walker added. “I think we got some great criteria. We can do it better here than anywhere. We just need to do it a little faster.”
The Rio Tinto Kenikot mine, West Salt Lake City, is the largest open mine in the world, extending 2.5 miles and a depth of about 4000 feet. In more than 120 years, the mine produced copper more than anything else on this planet.

The Bingham Canyon mine, also known as the Kenikot Copper Mine, in Utah. (Photography by Deagostini / Getty Images / Getty Images)
“The history of Kenikot is what keeps me here. I am only from his joy with him. Twenty -five percent of the minerals that the allies came in World War II from here,” said Kenikot’s administrative director Nate Foster. “The allies do not win in World War II without Kenikot.”
Kenikot also was also distinguished by being one of two sites in the country that can be able to get rid of copper, the check, and correct it. Compared, China has more than 50 copper Mazer. This means that a lot of copper that is extracted in the United States is shipped to other countries to be improved.
“We now (the United States) actually issue more than 400,000 tons of focus per year, which will go to other countries to be addressed and then recharging us in another form,” says Walker.
Kennecott Smelter is an engineering marvel-at a height of 1215 feet, and is the fourth finest chimney in the world.
Foster added: “The fact that we have one of the cleaners of Massamin in the whole world makes it unique in reality,” Foster added. “And where we really believe that we are in a good position with one of the very strategic assets with our fuse and the refinery to be able to help … invest in America.”
Kennecott is a 365 -day process, 24 hours a day. Ninety -seven of the enlarged transportation, are able to carry 360 tons in one load, day and night to extract about 120,000 tons of copper ore, which represents 20 % of the country produced in the country.

Kenikot Copper mine outside the Salt Lake City, Utah. (Planet One Images / Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)
All the process is done at home. After mining and crushing, the raw rails its way through a 5 -miles conveyor belt to the condenser. Then it turns into a sludge and was taken into the fuse. From the fuse becomes 700 pounds. After spending time in an electric bath, two copper plates become 300 lb-9.99.99 % of pure copper.
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“This is the highest quality you will find anywhere in the United States,” said Foster. “and When you look at the amount of emissions that we do not have here in the United States, because we produce some of the highest environmental standards, other fascinations around the world do not have to comply with these same standards. So we are proud of this. “
Trump threatened to add a 25 % tariff On imported copper, which represents 47 % of copper used in the United States while this may serve as a blessing of the US -based copper mines, it is a complex problem for companies such as Rio Tinto, which runs mines all over the world.
“We are working hard with management to be part of this solution. Walker said: “If you look at the way in which the customs tariff works, then everything is how to prepare and revitalize it,” and if we can organize it in the right way, I think it will benefit the local offer. “
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