Communities Rally for Reopening of Cobre Panama Mine Amid Economic Fallout
Thousands of former workers, local residents, and members of supplier companies marched on Sunday in the town of Penonomé, Panama, urging President José Raúl Mulino to initiate dialogue on the potential reopening of the Cobre Panama copper mine, according to El Capital Financiero.
The mine, operated by Minera Panamá—a subsidiary of Canada’s First Quantum Minerals (TSX: FM)—was shut down after Panama’s Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that its operating contract was unconstitutional. The decision halted operations at the country’s only large-scale mining project.
The ruling followed mounting legal challenges and widespread protests against the revised agreement signed in October 2023 between the Panamanian government and Minera Panamá, which would have allowed the mine to continue operating for another 20 years.
Sunday’s demonstration, which remained peaceful, took place along a stretch of the Inter-American Highway leading toward Natá de los Caballeros.
Affected families, including those from nearby mining communities, participated in a rally to call for economic recovery and job opportunities.
Cecilia Martínez, a resident of Coclesito in the Omar Torrijos Herrera district, told local media that communities near the mine are demanding the right to dignified employment.
“We want to contribute to building a country that progresses socially and economically in peace,” she said.
Martínez also pushed back against criticism of pro-mining demonstrators, saying, “We’re not traitors—we’re demanding equal rights and opportunities for all Panamanians.”
Although Panama’s National Assembly had initially ratified the new contract between the government and First Quantum, the decision was later reversed following massive nationwide protests that nearly paralyzed the country.
Demonstrations on land and at sea disrupted the delivery of vital supplies to the mine, further complicating the situation.
Martínez emphasized the deep economic impact the closure has had on local communities, many of which relied heavily on mining-related employment.
Former Cobre Panama worker Katherine Márquez echoed these concerns, describing the situation as “shocking.” She told El Capital Financiero that entire towns and businesses had been “left without dreams or opportunities” after the mine’s abrupt shutdown.
Cobre Panama, the largest open-pit copper mine in Central America, produced 330,863 tonnes of copper in 2023 before operations ceased in November.
It had been on track to become a 100-million-tonne-per-year operation in 2024, placing it among the top copper-producing sites globally.
In April 2025, a proposed joint venture between First Quantum and the Panamanian government was floated as a possible resolution to the ongoing dispute.
However, the mine remains closed, and affected communities continue to push for swift government action to restore economic stability to the region.
SOURCE:mining.com
