Housing & Development · Pima County
Copper World Mine to Begin Construction This Year, Operations by 2029
Hudbay Minerals and Mitsubishi Corp. have finalized their partnership to develop Copper World, one of the largest open-pit copper mines in the U.S., in the Santa Rita Mountains about 31 miles southeast of Tucson. Construction is expected to begin before year's end, with mining operations starting in the second half of 2029. The project promises over 1,000 construction jobs, 500 permanent positions, and $1.1 billion in tax revenues over roughly 15 years. Pima County Administrator Jan Lesher has warned investors about unresolved risks including groundwater depletion affecting Sahuarita and Green Valley, tailings storage upstream of residential areas, and ongoing environmental litigation.