On Wednesday, the Panamanian branch of Canadian mining company First Quantum Minerals announced its intention to present the initial stage of its mine conservation plan to government authorities on January 16. This decision follows the closure order issued for its project last year.
Due to a ruling by Panama’s highest court, citing the contract as unconstitutional and in the face of widespread protests against its ongoing operation, the Cobre Panama project, counted among the largest open-pit copper mines globally, had to cease its operations.
The strategy is expected to guarantee the physical and chemical stability of mining facilities and environmental management. This encompasses personnel needs, monitoring, and assessment responsibilities, as outlined in the company’s statement.
“The company mentioned that an interagency government commission will conduct a technical inspection on Jan. 11, in line with the commerce and industry ministry’s closure action plan for the mine.”
“According to the company, adhering to the best international practices, the systematic closure of mining projects, which includes planning and implementing measures to ensure ongoing environmental stability, typically spans several years.”
