A new metal recycling plant is slated to start construction this summer in Augusta Corporate Park in South Augusta, but the Savannah Riverkeeper has filed a petition with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to delay construction and conduct another review of potential pollutants from the plant.
Aurubis, based in Germany, announced the project last fall. The scope of the project includes a state-of-the-art multi-metal recycling plant (see artist rendering above) built on 150 acres, which would provide about 125 local jobs. Hiring for some of those jobs is expected to start this summer. The project would be completed by the beginning of 2024 and be in production by the second half of ’24.
The plant will recycle such items as computer circuit boards, copper cable, and other products containing copper to produce blister copper – smelted copper with a purity of 96 to 99 percent. The blister copper will be used to create other products, primarily in Europe but also in the United States.
Aurubis Richmond will have the capacity to recycle 90,000 metric tons of material annually and produce 35,000 metric tons of blister copper.
The Savannah Riverkeeper is concerned about the 30 potentially cancer-causing pollutants the copper smelting process produces that could be released into the air or groundwater. In its 2022 State of the Air report, the American Lung Association ranked Augusta 25th in the nation for most particle pollution. The Riverkeeper fears the Aurubis plant would increase the city’s particulate pollution. (On the other side of the Savannah River, Edgefield County is rated as one of the nation’s cleanest counties for particle pollution.)
Last month, the Economic Development Authority was authorized to issue $760 million in Revenue Bonds, which would be paid back through the revenues made by Aurubis.
The Aurubis Richmond plant, estimated to cost $340 million, will be the largest investment by a German company in the state. It is expected to play a role in Georgia’s push into the electric vehicle manufacturing market.
For more information about job opportunities with Aurubis, visit www.aurubis.com/en/career/jobs.