Decision was driven by a combination of environmental requirements, the age of the plants, competition from natural gas and declining electricity consumption in Tenessee.
Researchers probed that copper in drinking water – given at the maximum levels permitted in public water supplies – accelerated the growth of tumours in mice.
Resolution Copper mine —a 55%-45% joint venture between Rio Tinto and BHP— is expected to create 3,700 direct and indirect jobs and bring over $61 billion in economic benefits to Arizona over its 66-year life.
The miner, already the world’s No. 1 cooper producer, will become one of the world’s ten largest silver producers as soon as its Ministro Hales mine begins production next year.
"We are already at the point where production will drop by around a million tonnes next year regardless of any actions that can be taken now,” said the company.
