Asarco's El Paso Plant is a Modern, State-of-the-Art Copper Smelter

Asarco's El Paso Plant is a modern, state-of-the-art copper smelter.   The copper smelter is currently in the process of renewing its operating permits by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.  The plant has been on temporary shutdown status since 1999.

 

Asarco invested nearly $100 million in the copper smelter to build and implement new technology in 1992, earning it recognition as EPA’s maximum available control technology for copper smelters in the United States.  The technology, known as ConTop, increased production to 150,000 pounds of copper annually while reducing air emissions by more than 90%.  Contop is the only copper smelter of its kind in the United States.

 

Copper could be the cornerstone of El Paso’s future again. After the permitting process is completed, Asarco could provide 300 well-paying hourly jobs and approximately 80 salaried positions,