Freeport Approves $4.5 Billion Expansion of Bagdad Copper-Molybdenum Mine

November 4, 2026 | Mining Industry News

Freeport-McMoRan's Board of Directors has approved a $4.5 billion expansion and modernization program for its wholly owned Bagdad copper and molybdenum mine in northwestern Arizona, USA.

The brownfield project is expected to more than double the mine's mining and milling rates, increasing its long-term annual copper production to over 400 million pounds and molybdenum production to over 20 million pounds.

A major part of the expansion is the construction of new concentrator facilities, expected to add approximately 115,000 metric tons per day of nameplate processing capacity.

The project also includes supporting infrastructure and equipment:

• A new primary crusher
• An overland conveyor system
• Water pipeline and power line infrastructure
• Additional mining equipment and related facilities

The expansion will incorporate modern technologies and automation to improve operational efficiency and support higher production rates.

According to Freeport-McMoRan, the project is expected to add approximately 225 million pounds of copper and 12 million pounds of molybdenum to annual production over the long term.

Upon completion, Bagdad is expected to become the second-largest copper mine in the United States, behind Freeport's Morenci operation.

The company also expects the expansion to reduce long-term unit net cash costs by approximately 20%, supported by economies of scale, technology improvements and molybdenum by-product credits.

The estimated investment is approximately $4.5 billion, with a construction period of around three and a half years. Initial production is targeted for mid-2030.

Freeport expects the project to generate more than 4,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction, alongside additional long-term employment opportunities.

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Representative sample preparation, including crushing, grinding, splitting and particle size analysis, supports mineralogical examination and metallurgical testing such as flotation experiments.

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