VOL. 07 | ISSUE 1 | March 2024
Miner Notes
COMPANY ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP TRANSITION
On February 6, Freeport-McMoRan Inc. announced the appointment of Kathleen L. Quirk as President and Chief Executive Officer to be effective at the annual meeting of shareholders on June 11, 2024. Quirk will assume full responsibility for executive management of the business reporting to the company’s Board of Directors.
Richard C. Adkerson will remain Chairman of the Board of Directors, supporting the leadership transition and Freeport’s business on strategic matters of significance to the company.
“Kathleen’s strong business and strategic acumen and increasing levels of responsibility over many years have demonstrated she has the skills to lead our company and continue Freeport’s tradition of excellence,” Adkerson said. “My passion for Freeport and our prospects for the future are stronger than ever, supported by great assets, great people and an outstanding Board and
leadership team.”
The full news release is available on fcx.com.
Kathleen Quirk
Safford operations’ Hydromet facility comprises a large portion of the area frequented by the site’s busy Hydromet Electrical team, which recently completed 10 years with no reportable injuries.
Safford Operations Teams Mark Decade of Safety Excellence
Three teams at Safford operations were among the latest to achieve impressive safety milestones in 2023. In early October, Safford’s Hydromet Electrical team completed 10 years with no reportable incidents. Those years comprised an estimated 730,080 work hours – among all team members – spent around the SX/EW, acid plant, leaching, Morenci sulfur transload, security and water system facilities. Although the employees are exposed to potential hazards such as high-voltage, gases, high-pressure steam and sulfuric acid within those environments, their commitment to safe behaviors and best practices has helped them sustain their safety success.
End of an Era as Miami Smelter’s Historic Smokestack Makes Way for Modern Upgrades
The iconic black smokestack that towered over the Miami smelter for more than 100 years was taken down to make room for modern cooling equipment needed to sustain the operation. The smokestack was built in 1914 to vent gases from the smelter. It was taken out of service in the early 2000s, as modern scrubbing equipment was installed in response to changing environmental regulations. Once demolition is complete, the site will become the location for auxiliary cooling equipment needed for a new, state-of-the-art electric furnace that will be installed at the smelter this year.
Work on the black smokestack at the Miami smelter began in 1914.
Safety professionals from around the company gathered in Phoenix to engage with each other and learn best practices.
Global Health and Safety Summit at Phoenix Hub Sets Course for 2024
Some 70 health and safety professionals hailed from Freeport sites around the globe for a three-day summit at the Hub in Phoenix to refresh, recharge and reconnect heading into 2024. The overall program focused on the critical importance of health and safety to achieving best business results. Team members heard from external and internal speakers, participated in breakout sessions and shared best practices. Some featured topics included how fatal risk management adds value to the bottom line, emerging trends in generational leadership and best practices in contractor management.