The Panamanian Mining Chamber (Camipa) appointed its new Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 period, headed by entrepreneur Severo Sousa Gómez, who assumes the presidency of the guild after being elected at the General Assembly held last March 31. Sousa has an extensive career in both the public and private sectors. He has held positions such as Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade, President of the National Council of Private Enterprise (Conep), and has been part of the boards of directors of strategic entities such as the National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (Senacyt), Panama Pacific, and the Association of users of the Colón Free Zone.
The new Camipa board is composed of:
- President: Severo Sousa (Austin Powder)
- Vice President: Orlando Omar Sugasti Reina (NDC Geotecnia / NDC Innovation, S.A.)
- Secretary: Agustina Inés Varela (Minera Panamá, S.A. / First Quantum Minerals Ltd.)
- Treasurer: Diego Alejandro Mesa Mejía (Argos Panamá)
- Member 1: Oliver Hoelzer (Liebherr Panamá, S.A.)
- Member 2: Elio Palacios (SVF Central America)
- Member 3: Michel Mittelmeyer (Wakefield Marine Energy Corp.)
As directors were appointed:
- Julio Benedetti (Metals Sector)
- Juan Valencia (Suppliers Sector)
- Roberto Cuevas (Non-Metals Sector)
From CAMIPA, we congratulate the new Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 period, elected at the General Assembly of last March 31. We extend a special congratulations to its president, Severo Sousa Gómez, who brings an extensive career in the public and private sectors.
Currently, mining activity in Panama is suspended after a mining moratorium law and a ruling by the Supreme Court of Justice that declared unconstitutional the contract between the company Minera Panamá and the State for the operation of the Donoso mining project. However, activities are being carried out under the Preservation Plan and Safe Management of that mine, which has specifically involved the sale of the copper concentrate that had been dammed in the mine, and the processing of the exposed rock material is expected.
