Carlota was discovered in the 1990s and came to be one of the first copper mines designated and permitted under modern environmental legislation. Owned entirely by KGHM International Ltd., the mine was commissioned in late 2008 and has produced an average of 25 million pounds of cathode copper annually for the last four years.
Carlota has been implementing a mine for closure plan which optimizes cash flow while advancing activities related to the winding down of operations. This plan is consistent with the life of mine objectives as described in the Carlota permits which called for a staged closure plan during the last years of mining. The mine’s timeline for closure is in accordance with current permits and Arizona environmental regulations. Time and attention is spent on closure to ensure an end-used mined land to be reused for other purposes
Carlota supports the local community both financially and with donations of employee time. They have donated funds to repair and re-open the Miami Community Pool and support a variety of programs for the elderly, such as Meals on Wheels. They are also a member of the 2012 Pinto Valley Road clean-up team. The mine and the employees are directly involved in the community and have donated safety equipment for science labs at San Carlos elementary school. In addition, they have donated funds, gift cards and nearly 5,000 in non-perishable food items and toys to local food banks.