Amid growing concerns over copper shortages in the United States, Ivanhoe Electric is rapidly advancing its Santa Cruz Copper Project in Casa Grande, Arizona—poised to become the first U.S.-based copper mine opened in more than a decade. The project is expected to commence production by 2028, benefiting from expedited permitting on private land, which accelerates its development timeline in a sector where new mines typically take decades to launch.
Santa Cruz is projected to yield nearly 3 billion pounds of copper over its 23-year lifespan, using heap-leach processing to produce copper cathode on-site—bypassing the county’s limited smelting infrastructure. U.S. copper demand, currently estimated at 26 million tonnes in 2024, is forecast to rise to nearly 40 million tonnes by 2050, driven by expansion in electrification, renewable energy, and data center growth.
The project has gained strategic support following the announcement of a 50% import tariff on copper beginning on August 1, under President Trump’s executive action, which also aims to designate copper as a critical mineral to strengthen domestic supply chains. Construction is expected to create hundreds of high-paying jobs, with long-term employment through its operational phase. Santa Cruz represents a strategic turning point in U.S. mineral self-sufficiency and national economic resilience.
