Every day, Freeport employees make a real difference, safely producing copper that helps drive the world’s economy and improves our lives.

In Bagdad, our employees are making history.

Just two years after the company announced plans to make Bagdad the first large-scale mining operation in the United States to transition to fully autonomous haulage, the end goal is clearly in sight. As of the end of June, 15 driverless haul trucks are moving material at the site, and we’re on track to reach full autonomy with 33 autonomous trucks in service by year end.

While much of the attention has been on converting the site’s existing haul trucks to autonomous mode, the transformation has been comprehensive. A new command center built earlier this year enables the real-time monitoring and control of the autonomous fleet. Additional site upgrades include two tunnels that allow light vehicles to access work areas without entering the designated autonomous zone.

Most importantly, the work has been completed safely without a single recordable incident related to the project.

Beyond the technology and infrastructure improvements supporting our autonomous fleet, it’s our team members – their ingenuity, resourcefulness and commitment – who are most responsible for the project’s success.

This change has been neither easy nor arbitrary. For generations, skilled haul truck drivers safely navigated the Bagdad mine, playing a vital role in the site’s productivity and long-term success. The careful decision to adopt an autonomous model at Bagdad will help the site remain competitive and sustain that success well into the future.

Employees stepped up to meet the challenges that came with this transition. Existing haul truck drivers moved into new roles at Bagdad, with some even trained for jobs to operate and maintain the autonomous technology. Other site employees saw their responsibilities shift to support the project. Employees from Human Resources, Global Supply Chain and other departments were asked to think creatively to make the transition successful.

Throughout the entire experience, I have been continually impressed – but not surprised –  by the professionalism and commitment of our employees during this transition. One thing I knew from the start: our team was ready for the challenge.

I’m deeply grateful to everyone at the site and all who have supported us throughout this journey. Because of your efforts, we’re entering this next chapter with confidence and momentum.