By Diane Saunders, Staff Writer
Since 1920, about $1 billion has been spent by various copper companies, including Phelps Dodge and Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold, for copper exploration of the new Safford mine site, said Kimball Hansen, Phelps Dodge spokesman.
|
|
About 1,000 construction workers work at the plant site now.
Hansen said the number of construction workers is nearing its peak. The number will begin to decline within the next few months, Hansen said.
When mining begins in 2008, Phelps Dodge expects to have 400 permanent employees at the Dos Pobres mine. Hansen said the mining company will include the Bylas community in its recruitment efforts for the mine.
While construction work was in progress, Phelps Dodge merged with Freeport-McMoRan in a $2.6 billion deal to form the world’s largest publicly traded copper miner.
Hansen said all Phelps Dodge copper mines in Arizona will continue to bear the Phelps Dodge name.
When the new mine is ready for production, the mine site will include a large pit; an ore stockpile that will eventually grow to 9,000 feet long by 4,000 feet wide; a screening plant; conveyor systems; and ore screener; ore crushers and several electrical substations.
“At all these facilities there will be (electrical) substations,” Hansen said recently as he took Courier representatives on a tour of the plant site.
The mine site will have a large water retention basin built according to environmental requirements, Han-sen said.


Comments
10 comment(s)Ian Mccartney wrote on Sep 17, 2008 4:20 PM:
H. Craig Bradley wrote on Apr 18, 2008 5:29 PM:
Anonymous wrote on Apr 3, 2008 5:06 PM:
Vice Principal Kerry Wilson
Principal Robert Beeman
Superintendent Mark Tregaskes
Safford, Arizona Middle School
734 11Th Street
Safford, AZ 85546
Phone Number: (928) 348-7040
http://az.localschooldirectory.com/schools_info.php/school_id/3495 "
THS Alum 2004 wrote on Mar 20, 2008 4:21 PM:
P.S. Doug did it. "
blah wrote on Mar 6, 2008 8:29 AM:
colton wrote on Jan 29, 2008 2:02 PM:
saline wrote on Jan 29, 2008 2:01 PM:
Michael Jackson wrote on Dec 11, 2007 3:02 PM:
Jesu Christ! wrote on Oct 25, 2007 8:53 PM:
Daniel Connell wrote on Oct 23, 2007 9:35 AM: