Atlantic Copper, owned by US company Freeport-McMoRan, has officially opened CirCular, its new plant in Huelva for recovering metals from electrical and electronic equipment. This innovative facility, in which the company has invested €550 million, marks the beginning of a new chapter by adding advanced metal recycling to its traditional metallurgical operations.

The new plant has been integrated into Atlantic Copper’s metallurgical complex in Huelva. It has the capacity to process up to 60,000 tonnes of electrical and electronic equipment per year, and from which it will recover metals such as copper, gold, silver, palladium, platinum and nickel, all of which are essential to the energy transition, digitalisation and technological development.

Critical raw materials
This project combines the circular economy with industrial innovation, while also helping to strengthen Europe’s supply chain for critical raw materials. The plant - the first of its kind in southern Europe - has in fact been recognised as strategic by the European Commission.

According to Atlantic Copper’s Chairman, Javier Targhetta, the project marks "the natural evolution of the company, which has spent half a century contributing to industrial development through metallurgy, transforming raw materials into metals that are essential for progress, and which is now taking a further step by embracing advanced recycling to continue building industry, sustainability and a future for Andalusia, Spain and Europe".

New industrial capability for Europe
Company CEO Macarena Gutiérrez emphasised that CirCular is “the result of the experience and expertise Atlantic Copper has built up over decades, and the work of hundreds of professionals, partner companies and institutions that have helped make it possible”. In her words, the project demonstrates “a new industrial capability for Europe and the company’s commitment to continuing to grow from Huelva, creating jobs and economic impact, driving innovation and proving that industrial leadership is compatible with efficiency and sustainability”.

Gutiérrez concluded, “CirCular is much more than an industrial plant. It is an investment in the future and in a more competitive, sustainable and resilient European industry; and, above all, a demonstration of what we can build when we combine experience, talent, innovation and collaboration.”

^{Photo: Atlantic Copper}