A view shows Aurubis logo at the Aurubis site, on the day of European Council President Antonio Costa's visit, in Hamburg, Germany, April 15, 2025.
The facility, which represents an investment of approximately $800 million, will process up to 180,000 metric tons of complex waste material annually. This includes items like printed circuit boards, copper cables, and other metal-bearing products. The plant will produce 70,000 tons of high-grade blister copper with a purity of 98-99%, as well as nickel, tin, and other precious metals.
An Aurubis spokesperson stated: “We intend to sell the copper primarily to U.S. customers. This will enable us to meet the growing demand for strategic metals such as copper in the U.S. and elsewhere.” The U.S. currently has an annual copper demand of around 1.8 million tons, with approximately half of that being imported. The Richmond plant aims to address this gap by providing a faster method to reduce imports.
Additionally, the blister copper produced at the Richmond facility can be further processed into high-purity copper and copper products at Aurubis' smelting network in Europe. This integration with their European operations allows for efficient distribution and added value to the materials produced.
Aurubis CEO Toralf Haag also mentioned that the company may consider additional projects in the United States, citing the high availability of recycling materials and favorable local conditions. He added: “With the high availability of recycling material and good local conditions, the American market offers Aurubis appealing prospects that we will continue to consider closely in the future as well.”
This new plant is a significant step for Aurubis as it aims to strengthen its presence in the U.S. market and meet growing demand for critical metals.
