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Section: CRUSU Industry News

Florence Copper project begins operations

Taseko Mines’ Florence Copper project, featuring Metso’s copper solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX-EW) technology, is ramping up its commercial operations in Arizona. The successful harvesting of the first copper cathodes at the end of February 2026 is an important milestone for Taseko Mines and Metso, marking the first new greenfield copper production in the United States since 2008. The project caters to the rapidly growing copper demand while supporting the transition towards more environmentally responsible copper production in North America.

Grupa Azoty adds new sulphur fertilizer to its range

Grupa Azoty has launched DuoS® , a new nitrogen–sulphur fertilizer. Its formulation is based on ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate and anhydrite and includes two forms of nitrogen – nitrate and ammonium; two sulphur sources – ammonium sulphate and anhydrite; and calcium to support crop resilience and the quality of produce. The new nitrogen–sulphur fertilizer with added calcium is designed to improve nutrient use efficiency and reduce leaching and other nutrient losses. It is recommended for pre-sowing and top dressing on winter and spring cereals, winter rapeseed, sugar beet, potatoes, legumes, grassland, as well as vegetables and fruit crops. Grupa Azoty says it is introducing DuoS® in the current season as part of a strategy to develop its fertilizer business and focus on specialty products.

Contract awarded for sour oil field development

The Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has awarded global oilfield services firm SLB a five-year integrated contract worth about $1.5 billion for the next phase of development at Kuwait’s Mutriba oil field. The contract covers design, development and production management work and builds on SLB’s existing subsurface studies of the Mutriba field. It includes development of high-pressure, high-temperature reservoirs with sour conditions, expanding SLB’s scope as the project moves into more technically complex stages. SLB says that the award reflects its long-standing partnership with KOC and gives the company end-to-end responsibility for planning and execution as field development progresses.

Canadian government underwrites phosphate feasibility study

First Phosphate Corp. says that it has finalised an agreement for a C$16.7 million non-repayable contribution from the Government of Canada via Natural Resources Canada’s Global Partnerships Initiative. The company says that the funding will accelerate the development of its phosphate project in Bégin-Lamarche by developing the technical and engineering parameters – including processing circuits and equipment – needed to validate the ability to produce a phosphate concentrate that meets the quality requirements of the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery market. The work will be conducted based on parameters established under the contract between First Phosphate and its definitive offtaker.