VANCOUVER, British Columbia — March 2, 2026 — Leads & Copy — Taseko Mines Limited has announced that its Florence Copper operation in Arizona has harvested its first copper cathodes from its recently completed commercial production facility.
The company (TSX: TKO; NYSE American: TGB; LSE: TKO) said in a statement that the first copper cathodes were harvested last week. This represents the first new copper production from a greenfield facility in the United States since 2008.
Taseko announced the start-up of Florence Copper’s electrowinning plant and the commencement of copper production late last month.
Once Florence Copper reaches its nameplate capacity of 85 million pounds of LME Grade A copper metal per year, Taseko expects to become the third-largest copper cathode producer in America. The operation is expected to produce a minimum of 1.5 billion pounds of copper over the next 22 years.
Taseko President and CEO Stuart McDonald said the production of first copper in Arizona is a landmark achievement for the Florence Copper team and a major milestone for Taseko, as the company continues its journey to become a leading North American copper producer.
Florence Copper is the first greenfield site globally to employ ISCR, a unique and low-cost method of producing copper metal which delivers compelling environmental advantages over conventional mining, according to the release.
With copper production in the U.S. essentially flat in recent years, and global copper demand continuing to rise, Florence Copper represents an important step forward for America’s critical minerals strategy, the company said.
McDonald said producing LME Grade A copper cathode for America’s manufacturing sector, including automotive, semiconductor, defense/aerospace and AI data centers, will meaningfully strengthen US manufacturing and supply chain security. He added that all of the copper metal produced at Florence will remain in the United States to help address America’s growing reliance on copper imports at a time of burgeoning global demand.
McDonald noted that the journey to first production at Florence Copper – from envisioning a stand-alone ISCR operation, to undertaking the extensive test work and permitting, and ultimately completing construction on-time and on-budget – is a testament to the resourcefulness, purpose and commitment of the entire Taseko team.
McDonald added that the company is proud to be making copper in the United States, and looks forward to continuing to grow its business as a leading North America-focused copper producer.
Source: Taseko Mines Limited
