The Canadian mining company First Quantum Minerals (FQM) received authorization from the Government of Panama to withdraw, process, and export the mineral accumulated at the Cobre Panamá mine, extracted before the suspension of its operations, the company announced. The company explained that the so-called “processing program” does not imply the reopening of the mine nor will it involve new drilling or blasting. The plan will be limited to treating estimated reserves of 38 million tons of mineral, with approximately 70,000 tons of recoverable copper. According to First Quantum Minerals, processing the mineral aims to mitigate environmental and operational risks associated with prolonged storage, including the potential acid rock drainage, one of the main concerns in suspended mining projects. The company's CEO, Tristan Pascall, stated that the authorization represents “an important step in the responsible environmental management” of the Cobre Panamá mining complex. The company expects the processing program to generate more than 1,000 direct jobs, bringing the total workforce to around 3,000 people, with hires in areas such as maintenance, processing, environmental management, and logistics. Additionally, the creation of indirect employment is anticipated in local sectors like transportation, equipment supply, and services. In parallel, First Quantum Minerals has begun the reactivation of supply chains, including relationships with Panamanian suppliers, and the preparation of existing facilities such as crushers, conveyor belts, and processing plants.
