Freeport-McMoRan’s lineage, the history of copper and the metal’s importance to the energy transition are among the topics addressed in a two-part television series that starts on Saturday.
The company’s Sierrita site and the Tucson Tech Center are the locations for the start of the seventh season of “Tomorrow’s World Today,” which airs on the Science Channel. The program introduces its viewers to the newest advancements in science, sustainability and technology.
Part 1 of the feature exploring copper is scheduled to air at 10 a.m. EST on the Science Channel, while Part 2 is scheduled for the same time the following Saturday, April 27.
“Copper isn’t just a metal,” host George Davison proclaims on the trailer. “It’s a conduit for progress, a conductor of connectivity and a symbol of resilience.”
A “Tomorrow’s World Today” crew visited Sierrita and the Tech Center in October to tour the facilities and talk with a number of company leaders who spoke about all facets of the company’s operations, safety, sustainability efforts, community engagement and, of course, copper’s important and evolving role in society.
“The use of copper has really followed as society has developed,” Josh Olmsted, President and Chief Operating-Americas said during his interview with reporter Greg Constantino. “From using it as tools, utensils and kitchenware and really as a key element in electrification as electricity was developed. It was really critical in enabling that to happen.”
As the use of copper has progressed over the years, so have Freeport’s methods to produce it. Speaking while overlooking the Sierrita operation, Steve Higgins, Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, talked about some of the common misconceptions of the industry.
“The average person might think of a miner as having a headlamp on, a pickaxe over his shoulder and a mule trailing from behind,” Higgins said. “What we have here is vastly different, as you can see the scale of the pit, the scale of the equipment, the haulage trucks, the processing equipment. What would really surprise people is the amount of data, technology and AI (artificial intelligence) that we utilize to make sure our operations are as efficient as they can possibly be.”
In addition to Olmsted and Higgins, the program’s crew interviewed Kathleen Quirk, President; Andrea Vaccari, Director, Responsible Production Frameworks and Sustainability; Ondrea Barber, Manager, Strategic Native American Relations; Tracy Bame, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Development; Cory Stevens, President-FM Mining Services; and Bert Odinet, Vice President, Chief Information Officer and Chief Innovation Officer; and Sonia Valenzuela, Electrical Apprentice-Sierrita.
Once aired, both segments of the “Tomorrow’s World Today” series featuring Freeport will be available for viewing on the program’s website.