Copper Crisis Ends? State’s Stunning Solution

Arizona’s Santa Cruz Copper Project is poised to break America’s copper dependency, but the story of how we got here—and why it took this long—will leave you shaking your head at years of bureaucratic insanity.

At a Glance

• Santa Cruz Copper Project in Casa Grande, Arizona, advances as first major U.S. copper mine in over a decade
• The mine aims to address America’s copper shortage, slashing reliance on foreign imports
• Project faces regulatory hurdles after years of environmental red tape and anti-development policy
• Promises significant economic benefits for Arizona and the nation, with a projected $1.9 billion net present value

America’s Copper Shortage: A Crisis Decades in the Making

For years, Americans have watched our nation’s critical manufacturing sectors—everything from energy to electronics—be held hostage by foreign copper producers. The U.S. copper shortage is not a natural disaster. It’s the direct result of decades of government overreach, endless environmental litigation, and a refusal to put American industry first. Arizona, once the backbone of U.S. copper production, saw new development grind to a halt while bureaucrats and activists tied projects up in red tape. As global copper demand surged, thanks to so-called “green” mandates and electrification schemes, the gap between what America needs and what we produce has widened to a dangerous chasm. The result? More imports, more supply chain vulnerability, and higher prices for American consumers and manufacturers.

America’s growing copper crisis finds a promising solution in Arizona’s backyard https://t.co/VzFtk3y7yx

— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) July 27, 2025

The International Energy Agency projects global copper demand will jump from 26 million tons in 2024 to nearly 40 million tons by 2050. Meanwhile, the U.S. lags behind, forced to rely on countries that couldn’t care less about our economic security or environmental standards. All because our own leaders spent years blocking new mines, in the name of “protecting” us from prosperity. Now, with a new administration finally interested in American jobs and resources, the Santa Cruz Copper Project is leading the charge to reverse years of neglect. If you’re fed up with watching America sell out its future to the highest foreign bidder, this is one story you’ll want to follow.

The Santa Cruz Solution: Local Resources for National Strength

Ivanhoe Electric, a name familiar to anyone who follows real American enterprise, saw through the madness. Led by Executive Chairman Robert Friedland and CEO Taylor Melvin, the company consolidated a 6,000-acre land package in Casa Grande, Arizona, targeting high-grade copper deposits just 40 miles south of Phoenix. This isn’t some fly-by-night speculation. The Santa Cruz Copper Project will use advanced underground mining technology and a 100% heap leach process to produce pure copper cathode right on-site. That means less reliance on overseas smelters, less supply chain risk, and more American jobs. The project’s numbers are stunning: a preliminary feasibility study completed in June 2025 shows a $1.9 billion net present value, a 24% internal rate of return, and cash costs among the lowest anywhere in the Americas. Over its 23-year mine life, Santa Cruz is projected to deliver 1.4 million tonnes—about 3 billion pounds—of copper cathode. And it’s happening in a region with the infrastructure, workforce, and mining legacy to get the job done right.

The project’s leadership isn’t shy about its ambitions. CEO Taylor Melvin says, “Our advanced Santa Cruz Copper Project will be a significant long-term U.S. producer of copper cathode to help meet domestic demand. We are fortunate to have such a high-quality asset in Arizona, a state with a rich mining history and a bright mining future.” That’s the kind of unapologetic, pro-American leadership we need in every sector.

Red Tape, Delays, and the Real Cost of Environmental Gridlock

Let’s not kid ourselves: this mine should have been built years ago. The Santa Cruz project is only the first major new U.S. copper mine in over a decade—an indictment of the bureaucratic roadblocks that have held American industry hostage. For far too long, local governments, state regulators, and federal agencies played hot potato with permits, bowing to pressure from environmental groups determined to stop progress at any cost.

These delays don’t just hurt miners—every American pays the price in higher costs, lost jobs, and a weaker national security posture. The City of Casa Grande finally approved a General Plan Amendment, a step that should have been rubber-stamped in the first place. Now, with key permit applications set for submission in the first half of 2025 and construction targeted for 2026, the project is finally moving—despite the years of obstruction that have become the norm rather than the exception in American resource development.

It’s time to recognize that environmental “protection” without common sense is just self-destruction. The Santa Cruz project demonstrates that modern mines can deliver world-class production, economic benefits, and environmental stewardship—all while putting Americans back to work. If this mine succeeds, it could set a precedent for unleashing a new era of responsible, pro-growth mining across the nation. And that’s something every American should cheer.

Economic and Strategic Impact: Putting America First

The benefits of the Santa Cruz Copper Project extend far beyond Casa Grande. Construction and development will create hundreds of good-paying jobs, while local businesses and suppliers will see a surge in activity. Over the long term, the mine will provide a reliable domestic source of copper for manufacturers, technology companies, and infrastructure builders—the backbone of American progress. By reducing our dependence on foreign copper, the project strengthens national security and economic resilience. The financials don’t lie: with a $1.9 billion net present value and first-quartile operating costs, Santa Cruz is set to become a model for capital-efficient, profitable American mining.

Of course, the usual suspects are already raising environmental concerns, but the facts are clear: the project’s use of heap leach technology and on-site cathode production is more environmentally responsible than traditional smelting. Plus, the company’s technical reports meet the highest industry standards, and independent media confirm the project’s significance. In the end, what matters most is that this project puts American interests first—something too many politicians and activists had forgotten. The Santa Cruz Copper Project isn’t just about copper—it’s about restoring common sense, protecting American jobs, and putting our nation back on the path to self-reliance.

Sources:

Ivanhoe Electric official news release

Ivanhoe Electric preliminary feasibility study

Ivanhoe Electric Santa Cruz project page

Fox Business coverage

Mining.com industry report