The Ministry of the Environment (MiAMBIENTE) of Panama informed the public that the comprehensive audit of the Panama Copper Mine project is proceeding as scheduled, meeting the established goals and deadlines. The auditing firm SGS Panamá Control Services Inc. delivered the first progress report, corresponding to the initial phase of the audit process. This document, available on MiAMBIENTE's website, details the activities carried out so far, including inter-institutional coordination, document review, the technical structuring of the audit, and the definition of the work methodology in accordance with the established Terms of Reference. The report also confirms that the 370 environmental commitments derived from the Category III Environmental Impact Study (EIS) will be audited, ensuring transparency, traceability, and technical control throughout the process. In this first stage, no findings or conclusions have been issued yet, as the audit is in the information gathering, validation, and analysis phase, before starting field verifications and specialized technical evaluations. The Ministry emphasizes that the Comprehensive Audit of the Panama Copper Mine project is carried out under international standards, with independence and technical rigor. Partial and final results will be communicated to the public in a timely manner as the process progresses. MiAMBIENTE reaffirms its commitment to the publication of the country's environmental information and to the compliance with the Escazú Agreement, guaranteeing transparency in ecological and environmental management.
Details of the Report:
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What is being audited exactly: The entirety of the 370 environmental commitments established in the Category III Environmental Impact Study (EIS) of the project will be verified. The process will follow a structured methodology to evaluate the environmental, social, legal, and tax compliance of the project. These commitments were organized to ensure traceability and technical control, meaning it is clear exactly what is being audited and who is responsible for each part.
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Work stage and content of the report: The first report delivered by the auditing firm SGS Panamá Control Services Inc. corresponds to the initial phase of the audit. In this phase, there are still no concrete technical results: the report does not contain conclusions on whether the mine has met its environmental obligations — that will come in subsequent reports once field verifications and specialized technical analyses are carried out.
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This document includes: The inter-institutional coordination between MiAMBIENTE and other institutions to launch the process. The document review of background information, studies, and the project's environmental commitments. The technical structuring of the audit, including the work methodology to be followed. The clear definition of how the commitments will be audited, ordered by number, description, institutional competence, and location within the terms of reference. At this stage, no findings or conclusions are issued, as the audit is still in the preliminary data gathering and analysis phase before the fieldwork begins.
