The Minister of Commerce and Industries, Julio Moltó, revealed that royalties from the export of copper concentrate (over 122,000 tons) from the mine amount to $29 million, funds destined for the execution of various works in different parts of the country.
During a press conference yesterday, Moltó stated that the communities near the mine (Omar Torrijos, Donoso, and La Pintada) will be the main beneficiaries of these resources, which will be allocated to projects in infrastructure, health, education, electricity, and water supply.
«The funds will be destined for public works for the benefit of the country; of these $29 million in royalties, it has been ordered that investment be made in a priority and direct manner in infrastructure; the benefits must reach those who need them most,» Moltó stated.
Omar Torrijos will receive over $3 million for the expansion and equipment of the Coclesito health center, the electrical supply of Nueva Esperanza, and improvements to access roads.
Donoso will correspondingly receive over a million dollars for the construction of penetration roads in Guásimo and for the repair of the health center in Coclé del Norte.
In La Pintada, over a million will be invested in the expansion and equipment of the Llano Norte school, improvements to the drinking water systems of Llano Grande and Llano Norte, and the repair of roads between both communities.
Additionally, he said that the funds generated from this operation will also be used to finance the Plan for Preservation and Safe Management of the area until a decision is made on the mine's future.
He also emphasized that not a single cent will go to bureaucracy, consultancies, or offices, but «for the benefit of the entire country».
He explained that, by presidential instruction, the funds will be managed with transparency and made public.
In turn, he indicated that the resources will be channeled into verifiable projects.
Regarding the ongoing audit, he said it is being carried out by the Ministry of the Environment and reiterated that preliminary results will be published when they are available.
