Hello Carlos, No one is talking about expropiation of the mine operation. We want the Mine to close down completely, as well as any other mining operations. We want a proper closing including remediating damages to the ecosystem and rivers as much as possible. The closure if properly negotiated will take som years but once it happens the dmages to environment should be properly managed and a fund should be left for the health care of all affected as the region wher the mine operates has incresed dramatically in child mortality, child deformations and pancreatic cancer due to the pollution of the plant. Watch this documentary by DW “cobre sucio” | “dirty copper” to get a better idea of what is happening in panama near the mine. Panama is better off without mining.

Dear sir, FQM is no saint, yes, they paid bribes, there is no doubt about it in mind of Panamenian honest people. No one changed their minds, the country is overly against mining, what happened was that the greed of top corrupt government officials is such that they aproved a contract which is easy to demosntrate that violates the constitution. What the government did not expect was in this one case was that the people would react as we did. They counted on the usual behaviour which is to let things slide and getting away with their dirty actions. Not this time. Sorry for all who, like you, thinks that the government chnaged its mind, it is not the case here. The government and FQM, both, knew that the contract was flawed and inconstitutional, we the people knew it also and fought to right the wrong doing. The current government and many will pay the price for this wrong doing many years, we all hope. As for begging for foreign investors, we welcome those who help the country grow ina balance and sustainable way. As for “paying off the right people when dealing with countries like this” we rather you keep your money and dont help corrupt public officials, we already have a difficult task at hand trying to erradicate corruption, we dont need or appreciate people or companies like FQM who come and assume thay they can buy the freedom, health or wellbeing of a country to make a coin. Panama is better of without mining, go mine somewhere else.

Yes, we want investment in the form of nondestructive activities, activities that are ecofriendly and also improve the quality of life and health of our people. Open sky mining is not such activity. Mining undeniably generates jobs but in exchange of pollution, water poisoning, health isues for the neighboring locals and destruction of the surroundings. One thing is to mine in the middle of a desert, a totally diferent one is to mine in the mioddle of a rich biodiverse ecosystem. Tha fault is not with the mine itself, is with the corruptr goverment oficials that negociated an operation without taking in considerationthe public sentiment nor included sufficient clauses for preservation of the nature, health guaranteees for compensating the inhabitants who get poisoned which has proven to be a common fact in similar operations in Chile. As with anything you can do a good job to contain damage and guarantee health and restoration of the affected lands if this is included and supervised in the contract, or you can do a piss poor job of taking for granted all this things in exchange for a pretty penny. Just because you can does not mean you should and in the case of mining in Panama, the people choose not to have this destruction and poisoning, even if we must relinquish a meagre income. The mine does not pay taxes nor shares the income, it mearly pays a projected fee according to “declared” exportations of Cooper, leaving out the other precios minerals taht it is also extracting which increase the earnigs manyfold. The answer is still thanbks but no thanks. We will definetly find other sustainable ways to grow. Bye FQM, go exploit someone else.

Das sehe ich auch so. Kürzlich war ich vor vier Wochen in Panama, sodass ich die Sperren live miterlebt habe. Das Problem ist nicht Mining, sondern eine mehr als korrupte Regierung. Hier werden arme Menschen von Gewerkschaften manipuliert. Und Umweltschutz, dass ich nicht lache. An jeder Strassensperre gibt es haufenweise Müll, und gegen eine Luftverschmutzung tut auch keiner was, es werden Autoreifen verbrannt. Die Menschen sollten sich an der eigenen Nase fassen, bevor Steine auf andere geworfen wird. Und Thunberg, Caprio und co wollen ja auch nur in den Medien präsent sein. Der Verlierer bei den Streiks wird Panama sein, wer will dann noch dort investieren….

I notice a racist tint to your comment.

Environmentally, open-pit mining is devastating. It consumes enormous amounts of water, heavily pollutes water and air, disfigures landscapes, and permanently destroys habitat.3 Even after pits are exhausted and sites are rehabilitated, the pit area retains elevated risks of erosion and flooding. Panama is avoiding a huge environmental disaster in its horizon by rejecting this one sided
20 year contract with First Quantum Minerals.

Andy.. you are correct. Panama will pay in real dollars for this blunder. No bananas accepted. They will pay out for changing their minds and they will pay out in lost future investment. First Quantum must learn that when you deal in countries like this you must payoff the right people because they can change. I sold my investment because they were dealing with African republics. Missed this one! Missed this one.

What in the hell are you talking about? Do you reside in Panama? I do. Panama’s future doesn’t depend on mining. Sanctions (an act of war) were placed on Iran and Venezuela, not failures to honor contracts. Please, get your facts straight.

Victor, your country begged for foreign investors to come in and invest to diversify your economy. You welcomed the 10 billion USD investment and then changed your mind. This will not go unnoticed in the international community.