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Platform 02 · Midstream · Arizona · In Development

Falcon Copper WorksAdding primary smelting capacity to America.

America's copper smelting capacity falls well short of domestic mine output. A significant share of U.S.-mined concentrate is exported for processing, predominantly to China. Falcon Copper Works is being developed to close that gap.

Project Overview
Falcon Copper Works
Capacity
400,000+ tpa
Primary copper cathode output (subject to refinement)
Site
Federal Land, Arizona
Rail, power, and water infrastructure access
EPC Partner
JGC Corporation
Engineering, procurement, and construction integrator
Technology
Metso Flash Smelting
Proven primary copper smelting technology
Policy Context
U.S.–Japan Framework
$550B bilateral investment framework, Sept. 2025
Output
Refined Copper Cathode
Mine concentrate → cathode on U.S. soil
Status
In Development
Engineering and permitting advancing
The Processing Gap

America mines the copper.
China smelts it.

“Treatment and refining charges collapsed to $0/t in 2026. A significant share of U.S.-mined copper concentrate is processed in China. Falcon Copper Works is designed to change that.”
68%
China's share of global
smelting & refining
The Processing Chokepoint
China has deliberately consolidated smelting capacity. TC/RC charges at $0/t signal a strategic positioning, not a market equilibrium.
$0/t
Treatment & refining
charges in 2026
TC/RC Collapse
When smelters pay nothing to process concentrate, the economics of shipping American ore to China become a national security question, not a commercial one.
4
Decades since the last
U.S. primary smelter was built
The Domestic Void
No major new-build primary copper smelter has been built in the United States in four decades. Falcon Copper Works is advancing to close that gap.
The Arizona Smelter Project

The right site.
The right technology.
The right moment.

Arizona produces approximately 70% of U.S. mine copper. The state has the geology, the rail infrastructure, the water rights framework, and the regulatory relationships that a large-scale smelting operation requires.

The project is being advanced on federal land — giving Falcon direct access to federal permitting pathways consistent with the FAST-41 framework and the priorities of the U.S.–Japan $550 billion Strategic Investment Framework announced in September 2025.

Engineering work is led by JGC Corporation, with Metso providing core flash-smelting technology. The leadership team carries direct operating experience from Freeport's Tenke Fungurume, Glencore Mutanda, and Barrick's Nevada Gold Mines.

Site Geography
Federal land, Arizona — the country's leading copper-producing state, responsible for ~70% of U.S. mine copper output in 2024.
Infrastructure Access
Rail connectivity, established power grid, and water rights framework appropriate for large-scale industrial processing.
Permitting Pathway
Federal land siting is consistent with FAST-41 project tracking and the U.S.–Japan Strategic Investment Framework priorities.
Output
Refined copper cathode — taking domestic mine concentrate through to finished product on U.S. soil, eliminating the Chinese processing dependency.
Project Partners

World-class engineering and technology partners.

EPC Integrator
JGC Corporation

One of the world's leading engineering, procurement, and construction firms, with an extensive track record in large-scale mineral processing and metals infrastructure. JGC is leading the engineering design and EPC integration for Falcon Copper Works.

Core Smelting Technology
Metso

The global leader in flash smelting technology, which underpins the world's most efficient primary copper smelting operations. Metso's flash-smelting technology is the proven standard for large-scale primary copper processing.

Policy Alignment
U.S.–Japan Strategic Investment Framework

The $550 billion bilateral framework announced in September 2025 establishes the strategic priority for domestic copper processing investment consistent with the approach Falcon Copper Works is advancing.

Read the Imperative
Operations Leadership

Operators who have
run this before.

The Falcon Copper Works team carries direct operating credits from the world's largest copper processing operations — including Freeport's Tenke Fungurume, Glencore's Mutanda, and Barrick's Nevada Gold Mines.

Full leadership team
EB
Eric Best
Executive Vice President · Falcon Copper Works

Fmr. President Freeport Africa (Tenke Fungurume); Fmr. CEO Nevada Copper; Fmr. Glencore Head of Global Copper Production.

MC
Mike Ciricillo
Executive Vice President · Falcon Copper Works

Fmr. Process Plant Manager Freeport Tenke Fungurume; Fmr. CEO Glencore Mutanda Mining; Fmr. GM Cortez District, Barrick.

The Falcon Platform
Explore the other two platforms.
Falcon Copper Mining →Falcon International →

This website contains forward-looking statements. Mineral resource and reserve estimates, exploration results, and project economics are subject to the risks and uncertainties described in Falcon Copper's regulatory disclosures. Past performance of partner companies does not guarantee future results. See full disclosures.