District possibility of closure of Chino mine and mill

Friday, Freeport-McMoRan notified Chino employees who initially began their furloughs on April 26 of the extension of the furlough period from one month up to six months depending on employment status. Due to the uncertain economic recovery, combined with still lower copper prices, the decision regarding Chino's future is not expected until the third quarter.

There is a distinct possibility the Chino mine and mill will close, however, no decision has yet been made. Depending on the extent of this possible closure, the result could be a total employment loss for an estimated 450 to 850 employees. Based on the best information currently available, we anticipate any potential releases from employment for Chino employees would occur between August 1 and August 14, 2020.

We continue to partner with the New Mexico Workforce Solutions Rapid Response team to provide information and support to furloughed employees. In the next few weeks, Workforce Solutions expects to hold webinars explaining federally funded training and education programs, such as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (TAA).