AsarcoCopperSmelter

29 JANUARY 1999 - EL PASO, TEXAS: Joe Raigoso, a lugman at the Asarco copper smelter in El Paso, Texas, waits for a 70 ton ladle of molten copper to brought to the furnace at the smelter. Asarco mothballed the smelter for at least three years because of low prices in the copper industry. In mid 1997, copper was selling for approximately $1.20 per pound, it is currently selling for about .65 cents per pound, forcing copper producers like Asarco to take drastic belt tightening measures. About 370 workers were laid off as the plant's machinery was mothballed. Closure of the Asarco smelter comes on the heels of the closure of copper mines in southern New Mexico owned by the Phelps-Dodge company, an Asarco competitor. Asarco officials have said they may reopen the plant if copper prices rebound. Photo by Jack Kurtz / ZUMA Press

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Filename: CopperSmelter002.jpg
Copyright: © Jack Kurtz
Image Size: 3075x2083 / 4.9MB; Copper Texas ZUMA
Contained in galleries: Misc Images from the West

29 JANUARY 1999 - EL PASO, TEXAS: Joe Raigoso, a lugman at the Asarco copper smelter in El Paso, Texas, waits for a 70 ton ladle of molten copper to brought to the furnace at the smelter. Asarco mothballed the smelter for at least three years because of low prices in the copper industry. In mid 1997, copper was selling for approximately $1.20 per pound, it is currently selling for about .65 cents per pound, forcing copper producers like Asarco to take drastic belt tightening measures. About 370 workers were laid off as the plant's machinery was mothballed. Closure of the Asarco smelter comes on the heels of the closure of copper mines in southern New Mexico owned by the Phelps-Dodge company, an Asarco competitor. Asarco officials have said they may reopen the plant if copper prices rebound. Photo by Jack Kurtz / ZUMA Press