The successful harvesting of the first copper cathodes at the end of February 2026 is an important milestone for Taseko Mines and Metso, marking the first new greenfield copper production in the United States since 2008. The project caters to the rapidly growing copper demand while supporting the transition towards more environmentally responsible copper production in North America. Stuart McDonald, President & CEO of Taseko Mines commented: “This represents a landmark achievement for the Florence Copper team and a major milestone for Taseko, as we continue our journey to become a leading North American copper producer.”
Metso’s delivery to the Florence Copper project consists of a modular VSF®X solvent extraction plant and main process equipment for the electrowinning plant. Florence Copper has a nameplate capacity of 85 million lb (40 000 t) of LME Grade A copper cathode per year.
“We are excited to congratulate Taseko Mines and the Florence Copper team on this important milestone. It’s an honour to support their success with proven Metso Plus technology designed to maximise resource efficiency and reduce environmental footprint. This aligns perfectly with our mutual dedication to sustainability and operational excellence,” said Mikko Rantaharju, Vice President, Hydrometallurgy and Thermal Processing at Metso. “Moreover, this delivery is the first of its kind to the United States and holds tremendous value for Metso as we expand our offering and installed base in the region.”
“Metso’s nearby Mesa, Arizona service centre and aftermarket team will work closely with the customer to ensure reliable, safe operation long after commissioning and maximise performance across the full equipment lifecycle,” said Martin Karlsson, Vice President, Sales & Services, USA.