Donald Trump comes out swinging amid talks with Rio Tinto’s Simon Trott and BHP’s Mike Henry
Australia’s top mining bosses have held talks with Donald Trump in Washington about a major copper project that is facing opposition from environmentalists and Native American tribes.
Rio Tinto and BHP bosses have met Donald Trump to discuss the future of a giant copper project in Arizona, as the US President blasted traditional owners and environmentalists trying to block mining.
Incoming Rio chief executive Simon Trott and the man he is replacing, Jakob Stausholm, and BHP boss Mike Henry met Mr Trump face to face in Washington after a US court delayed a vital land transfer associated with the Resolution copper mine.
Rio owns 55 per cent of the Resolution project and BHP 45 per cent, and the partners have spent more than a decade trying to advance what they say will be the biggest copper mine in the US.
A Rio spokesman said the discussions centred on the mining industry’s capacity to deliver long-term domestic supplies of copper and other critical minerals as well as progress on the Resolution project.
“Rio Tinto has a 150-year history in the US and is a significant producer of copper in the country, as well as other critical materials such as lithium, tellurium, gold, silver, molybdenum, borates, and recycled aluminium,” he said.
Mr Henry took to social media to talk up the Trump meeting, which included US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, which he said underscored “our shared commitment to develop Resolution Copper”.
“Resolution Copper is one of the largest untapped, high-grade copper resources in the US today and will create thousands of high-value local jobs in Arizona and billions in economic activity across America,” he said on LinkedIn.
“Copper is essential to everyday life as a critical component in powerlines, smart phones, medical equipment, cars and data centres. Demand for copper is growing strongly. The world needs more mining to build the future.
“As the world’s largest mining company and copper producer, I want to thank President Trump and Secretary Burgum for their strong leadership to reinvigorate mining and processing supply chains in and for America.”
Mr Trump used his Truth Social online platform to attack a US court and what he called radical activists for delaying the project.
“A Copper Mine in Arizona, ‘Resolution’, was just delayed by a Radical Left Court for two months – 3800 Jobs are affected, and our Country, quite simply, needs Copper – AND NOW!” he posted.
“They are looking to do an Expedited Appeal before the Ninth Circuit, but it is so sad that Radical Left Activists can do this, and affect the lives of so many people.
“Those that fought it are Anti-American, and representing other Copper competitive Countries. We can’t continue to allow this to happen to the U.S.A.! The Appeal will take place, shortly, in the Ninth Circuit.”
The Trump outburst came after the court granted an injunction that at the least delays a land exchange required for Rio and BHP to push ahead with Resolution.
The multibillion-dollar project involves an underground mine at Oak Flat in Arizona that will tap into what is estimated to be a 28 million-tonne copper deposit. Resolution Copper expects the mine to produce about 20 million tonnes of copper over 40 years.
The mine has already received a tick from the US Department of Agriculture and other US authorities.
The appeal court ruling late on Monday (local time) blocked a land exchange and came the day before the end of a 60-day review period for the exchange.
The fight against the mine is led by some Native American tribes, including the San Carlos Apache, and a coalition of environmentalists.
Resolution Copper said the injunction was a temporary delay and defended its consultation with stakeholders in Arizona over the past 11 years.
“This is merely a temporary pause so that the court of appeals can consider plaintiffs’ 11th-hour motions, which were submitted on Saturday afternoon asking for a ruling by Monday,” a Resolution spokesman said.
“We are confident the court will ultimately affirm the district court’s well-reasoned orders explaining in detail why the congressionally directed land exchange satisfies all applicable legal requirements.”
Resolution Copper said the project had been subject to rigorous and independent review under the National Environmental Policy Act, led by the US Forest Service.
“This review has included extensive consultation with numerous Native American tribes with ancestral ties to this land, local communities, civil society organisations and a dozen federal, state and county agencies.” the spokesman said.
“The collaborative process has directly led to major changes to the mining plan to preserve and reduce potential impacts on tribal, social, environmental and cultural interests. We are encouraged to see so much local support for the Resolution Copper project, and our ongoing dialogue will continue to shape the approach moving forward.”
Resolution Copper maintains the mine will contribute $US1bn ($1.55bn) a year to Arizona’s economy and create thousands of local jobs in a region that has been home to mining for more than a century.
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