The Panamanian government is closing one of the country’s copper mines amid pressure from environmentalist activists who argued it threatened water supplies and complained it was being operated by foreigners.
Cobre Panamá was fully operational with a processing plant, a port, and two open pits, was regarded as one of the region’s largest copper mines.
It began producing copper four years ago, providing an estimated 1% of the world’s copper supply, contributed, for 3.5% of Panama’s GDP in 2021, provided 8,000 “direct” jobs and will potentially result in the termination of tens of thousands of “indirect” jobs.
Since its opening in 2019, activists declared war on the mine, arguing it was harming the Panamanian jungle and its water supply.