Rio Tinto, the parent company of Kennecott Utah Copper, plans to spend $238 million on the next step of studying an expansion that will keep copper and other metals coming out of the Bingham Canyon pit for about 10 years after the originally planned closure. The company, based in London and Sydney, noted that this is the first of four internal approvals needed for its Cornerstone Project. In addition, Kennecott has started the first of more than two dozen regulatory reviews that are required.
If Rio Tinto ultimately decides to proceed, the Cornerstone Project would keep the massive copper mine working through 2028 by expanding the perimeter south and digging deeper. A fifth grinding line would be added at the Copperton concentrator, the tailings impoundment would be expanded and power generation facilities upgraded. Salt Lake Tribune
