BHP’s Henry and Rio Tinto’s Trott and Stausholm meet with Trump over US copper setback from ‘radical left’

The bosses of BHP and Rio Tinto have sat down with Donald Trump in the White House to find a way to stop a mega copper development in the US from being derailed by the “radical left”.

President Trump hosted head honchos from the Australian iron ore giants a day after a coalition of environmental and Native American groups won an eleventh-our injunction from the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The injunction delays Rio Tinto and BHP’s multibillion-dollar Resolution Copper project in Arizona from getting the green light for development by at least two months until appeals are heard by the court.

The US President took to social media to label the decision as a threat to thousands of jobs by a “radical left court”.

“A Copper Mine in Arizona, ‘Resolution’, was just delayed by a Radical Left Court for two months – 3800 Jobs are affected, and our Country, quite simply, needs Copper – AND NOW!” he posted.

“They are looking to do an Expedited Appeal before the Ninth Circuit, but it is so sad that Radical Left Activists can do this, and affect the lives of so many people.

“Those that fought it are Anti-American, and representing other Copper competitive Countries. We can’t continue to allow this to happen to the U.S.A.! The Appeal will take place, shortly, in the Ninth Circuit.”

President Trump sat down with BHP boss Mike Henry, and Rio’s incoming chief Simon Trott and outgoing chief Jakob Stausholm.

Mr Henry and Mr Stausholm both posted about the meeting on LinkedIn.

“Earlier today, I had the privilege of meeting with US President Donald Trump and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum together with Rio Tinto . . . to underscore our shared commitment to develop Resolution Copper,” Mr Henry stated.

“Resolution Copper is one of the largest untapped, high grade copper resources in the US today and will create thousands of high value local jobs in Arizona and billions in economic activity across America.

“As the world’s largest mining company and copper producer, I want to thank President Trump and Secretary Burgum for their strong leadership to reinvigorate mining and processing supply chains in and for America.”

Mr Stausholm echoed Mr Henry’s sentiments, stating Rio and BHP “outlined the enormous potential of this project to provide domestic copper and other critical minerals for decades to come”.

“Rio Tinto has a 150-year history in the United States and is a significant producer of copper in the country as well as other critical materials such as lithium, tellurium, gold, silver, molybdenum, borates, and recycled aluminium,” he posted.

Rio owns 55 per cent of Resolution and BHP the remainder.

The multibillion-dollar project is expected to produce about 20 million tonnes of copper over 40 years, but its development has been met with fierce opposition by some Native American tribes over the past decade.

The mine has already received a tick of approval from the US Department of Agriculture.

A Resolution Copper spokesman said the Arizona-based project had been subject to rigorous and independent review under the National Environmental Policy Act.

“This review has included extensive consultation with numerous Native American tribes with ancestral ties to this land, local communities, civil society organisations and a dozen federal, state and county agencies,” the spokesman said.

“The collaborative process has directly led to major changes to the mining plan to preserve and reduce potential impacts on tribal, social, environmental and cultural interests.

“We are encouraged to see so much local support for the Resolution Copper project, and our ongoing dialogue will continue to shape the approach moving forward.”