Faraday Copper is a Canadian mineral exploration company advancing the large-scale Copper Creek copper project in Arizona, U.S. The company aims to supply U.S. domestic copper by developing one of the largest undeveloped copper deposits in North America.
You studied geology in the UK and have since worked across Spain, Portugal, Africa, and now Canada. What first drew you to the field, and given your track record of world-class discoveries, which jurisdictions hold the greatest untapped potential?
As a young kid, I was always picking up rocks and stones, fascinated by why topography was the way it was. So, studying geology was an easy choice. I had a vision of being like one of those early explorers or treasure hunters.
It depends on the commodity, but there’s a huge opportunity within the U.S. The country has been so underinvested in mining and exploration for decades. New discoveries, the advancement of development projects and new mine construction are happening across the entire country, from Alaska to the Carolinas. There’s an opportunity right across the board in almost every precious and critical mineral. The advantage is the existing infrastructure and very supportive administration. The U.S. and Western Canada are exciting places with vast untapped potential.
Mining’s reputation has long been shaped by concerns over its social and environmental impact. In your view, what factors are influencing how people see the industry today?
The industry has often been seen as a dinosaur.
People wanted clean energy but didn’t connect that mining makes it possible; civilization doesn’t exist without mining and metals, yet this industry is largely taken for granted.
Even NGOs that oppose mining projects depend on mining to travel and communicate through technology. The lingering image is still black-faced coal miners and environmental damage, but modern mines can be cleaner than many cities. Next door to our Copper Creek Project, for example, is a former BHP asset so carefully deconstructed you wouldn’t know a mine was ever there. Waste dumps and tailings have been reshaped to blend seamlessly into the landscape.
Climate change is pushing recognition that critical metals are essential, and that mining can be done responsibly under today’s tighter regulations and higher standards. What frustrates me most is the technical failures that persist. Too often, companies skip fundamentals like geological models, metallurgy, or engineering. These are minor costs compared to the billions needed to build a mine, but cutting corners can sink a project or cause major accidents. With demand rising, older operations are being pushed beyond their limits, while lack of investment in new projects during downturns leaves the sector overstretched — and that’s where failures occur. There are many positive initiatives — the World Gold Council’s sustainability work, the Lundin Foundation’s engagement at the community level — yet outdated perceptions persist. Community meetings can be tough, but closing the door isn’t an option. We need to engage, listen, and ensure people are heard.
Copper has become essential for the energy transition — from EVs and renewables to power grids and data centers. In your view, which areas will drive the greatest demand for copper in the years ahead?
The biggest driver will be investment in the grids in the Western world. We’ve seen blackouts in Portugal and Spain, issues at Heathrow in London with a substation failure, and rolling blackouts in California. China is building out its own smart grids and huge solar projects, like the Gobi Desert plant, consuming massive amounts of copper. North America, meanwhile, has been asleep at the wheel. Infrastructure here is outdated — I remember the Paradise Fire in California, where equipment was over 100 years old. The investment hasn’t been there, and now we’re playing catch-up.
In North America, people don’t see the same level of Chinese influence as in Europe or elsewhere. China could never compete on combustion engine technology, but now leads the way in electric motors and battery technology. In the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, Chinese EVs are everywhere, but trade barriers have blocked imports to North America. The West is far behind.
Since 2023, copper has been redesignated a critical mineral, with the White House making domestic supply a national priority. How confident are you that the U.S. can ramp up production fast enough?
It takes time. Western politics don’t help — governments focus on four-year cycles, but mining requires investment over decades. Politicians rarely see the rewards of projects within their term, so they don’t want to invest. Instead, projects often get stopped with a change in administration. To give you an example, we had an exploration plan of operations granted this June for 67 drill permits on federal land. Under the previous administration, it took two and a half years to overcome hurdles. Within six months of the new administration, it was approved. Since then, we’ve had two meetings at the White House. It feels like the bus is at the stop, the doors open — and if you don’t get on, there won’t be another one for a long time.
If the current administration doesn’t deliver benefits the public can see, they may not stay in power. The Democrats don’t seem very visible at the moment, but politics can always shift quickly. So how do you mitigate that? By sticking to strategy. There are no shortcuts — you keep advancing the project with detailed technical work. Also, not every company can deliver on what it promises. That’s why being part of the Lundin Group is an advantage. They have decades of experience building successful mines, even in very difficult jurisdictions, and have built strong government partnerships. The group has critical metals projects across North America: copper in Arizona with Faraday, nickel in Michigan, and lead, zinc, silver, and tungsten in the Yukon. That track record gives governments confidence in our ability to deliver.
Arizona, known as the “Copper State,” produces about 70% of America’s domestic copper. With Faraday’s largest-ever drill program now in phase 4, how do you see this project contributing to the U.S. push for domestic supply?
At Copper Creek, we’ve launched a 40,000-meter drill program running through June 2026. We now have significantly expanded capabilities to drill on federal land with the recently approved Exploration Plan of Operations. Our Phase IV program is underpinned by a strong exploration upside in the Copper Creek district and will focus on near-surface mineralization, oxide resource growth and new discoveries. Together with earlier work, this brings us to 80,000 meters of new drilling since our last technical study in May 2023.
Arizona adds major advantages: strong infrastructure with highways, rail, and the new $11 billion SunZia renewable transmission line. This creates the opportunity to produce “green copper” powered by renewable energy. Mining technology is also advancing — remote equipment, electric vehicles, and automation — improving safety and efficiency. And modern rehabilitation ensures former mines can be restored so well that they often become recreational areas, barely recognizable as past operations.
