Aurubis opens secondary smelting facility in Georgia

Germany-based Aurubis AG hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its secondary smelting facility in Augusta, Georgia, in Richmond County on Sept. 20 after more than two years of construction. In addition to Aurubis leadership, Georgia Gov. Brian P. Kemp and other local officials and community members joined the celebration.

The company says Aurubis Richmond is the first-ever secondary smelter of its kind for multimetal recycling in the United States.

After breaking ground in June 2022, Aurubis made the strategic decision later that year to fast-track the expansion of the plant and invest a total of roughly $ 800 million in the facility. With the expansion, the facility will be able process up to 180,000 tons of complex recyclables annually, including circuit boards, copper cables and other metal-bearing products.

“With Aurubis Richmond, we are a pioneer for multimetal recycling in the U.S.,” Aurubis CEO Toralf Haag said during his keynote address. “As the first major secondary smelter of its kind in the U.S., Aurubis Richmond will allow us to keep strategically important metals in the economy, making U.S. supply chains more independent. The new site shows very clearly how Aurubis combines profitable growth and sustainable business activity, following our ambition to responsibly transform raw materials into value for an innovative and sustainable world.”

“Through our many meetings with Aurubis leadership, both in Georgia and Germany, we heard how their goals aligned with ours to create good-paying jobs and build a lasting partnership that would position us as leaders in an emerging electric industry," Kemp added. "After years of hard work, we get to celebrate on days like today, when we cut the ribbon on this facility and formally welcome the next chapter for Aurubis in the Augusta community.”

“Aurubis Richmond is going to become a major player in the North American multimetal supply chain and a significant employer in greater Augusta,” said David Schultheis, president and managing director of Aurubis Richmond. “I am very proud of what the team has achieved, building this state-of-the-art recycling plant in just over two years.”

Schultheis also expressed gratitude for the support of Georgia officials, calling the company’s relationship with them “a true partnership that we look forward to intensifying in the future.”

Aurubis’ new Richmond facility is equipped with advanced technology in line with environmental standards set by the state of Georgia and federal regulators, the company says. This ensures that operations are conducted with the highest regard for air, water and wildlife protection, aligning with Aurubis’ mission of being a good environmental steward and its strategic vision to be carbon-neutral well before 2050.

The company says the ribbon-cutting ceremony also emphasized Aurubis Richmond’s role in contributing to a circular economy by supplying essential metals to key industries, such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, and battery manufacturing. The facility is expected to play a critical role in the North American supply chain.

Aurubis Richmond says it is committed to being a major employer in the greater Augusta area, providing more than 230 high-quality jobs and contributing to the local economy. The company is prioritizing community engagement and has committed to a community benefit agreement with Augusta Technical College and Aiken Technical College as well as with the Richmond County School System that includes investing in scholarships and job training programs.