EL PASO -- Citing a "dramatic downturn" in the price of copper in the world market, Asarco LLC announced Tuesday that it will abandon its long and hard-fought plans to restart its copper smelter and instead will tear it down.
The fight over whether the smelter, which has been a landmark in El Paso for 112 years, should reopen had been one of the most controversial and emotional battles in recent city history.
"Unfortunately, due to the extreme economic conditions worldwide that have occurred during the last six months, we can no longer financially afford to continue pursuing that goal," said Thomas L. Aldrich, Asarco vice president of environmental affairs.
"We're deeply saddened by this decision, and we'd like to thank all of our many supporters in El Paso and Texas. We also want to assure the community that we're working to ensure that our property is left in a condition that will be an asset to a great community that we have enjoyed working and living in for more than 110
Asarco is done
http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_11622531
As a native El Pasoan, I have to admit I'm a little sad to see ASARCO go.
It's been there longer than most of the city.
They cited the low price of copper as a reason for abandoning the plant. I guess they figure it won't go back up again? Sometimes I wonder
how much planning goes into deciding to tear stuff down, whether it's really exceeded its useful life or not, maybe it has.
Anyway just sort of sentimental loss and strange to see it go, wondering what other people from El Paso or know about Asarco think about it
The fight over whether the smelter, which has been a landmark in El Paso for 112 years, should reopen had been one of the most controversial and emotional battles in recent city history.
"Unfortunately, due to the extreme economic conditions worldwide that have occurred during the last six months, we can no longer financially afford to continue pursuing that goal," said Thomas L. Aldrich, Asarco vice president of environmental affairs.
"We're deeply saddened by this decision, and we'd like to thank all of our many supporters in El Paso and Texas. We also want to assure the community that we're working to ensure that our property is left in a condition that will be an asset to a great community that we have enjoyed working and living in for more than 110
Asarco is done
http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_11622531
As a native El Pasoan, I have to admit I'm a little sad to see ASARCO go.
It's been there longer than most of the city.
They cited the low price of copper as a reason for abandoning the plant. I guess they figure it won't go back up again? Sometimes I wonder
how much planning goes into deciding to tear stuff down, whether it's really exceeded its useful life or not, maybe it has.
Anyway just sort of sentimental loss and strange to see it go, wondering what other people from El Paso or know about Asarco think about it