By South32
South32’s Hermosa project announced today that it would construct its remote operations center in Nogales. Hermosa is currently the only advanced mining project in the United States capable of producing two federally designated critical minerals – zinc and manganese.
The decision follows two years of analysis and consideration of Hermosa’s county-wide planning and employment goals to retain the economic benefits of the project in the Santa Cruz County area.
As part of the location announcement, the Hermosa project is also debuting a new name for the remote operating facility: Centro, a name chosen by the community in an online vote that took place earlier this year.
The selected location, just off Interstate 19 near the Mariposa Industrial Park, is approximately 70 miles south of Tucson and approximately 28 miles from the Hermosa mine site. The building location will reduce commuter traffic to and from our mine site, as well as help build out local roads and infrastructure in the surrounding area.
Designed as a commercial building with an office-like setting, Centro will accommodate employees and the automation technology needed to remotely monitor and operate some of the underground and surface equipment located at the mine site. Centro will host around 200 full-time employees over several shifts in a 24-hour period.
Centro will be part of a nine-acre complex that will also include an employee parking lot, a park & ride service area and a garden.
Construction will begin by the end of 2024.
In addition to Centro in Nogales, the Hermosa project is assessing the potential to site additional buildings, operational and/or job training infrastructure throughout Santa Cruz County.
As part of the project’s goal of hiring 80% of Hermosa’s workforce from the surrounding community, South32 is partnering with local education institutions on STEM and robotics programs. The company is also partnering with state universities to strengthen internship opportunities. The Hermosa Workforce Development Task Force, featuring key community partners, launched earlier this year to help advise and boost local training and business development opportunities. (Source)
