Panama Restricts Access to Cobre Panama Mine Amid Protests
Panama City, Thursday, 27 March 2025.
Panama’s refusal to allow external visits to the Cobre Panama mine, amid protests and mining rights negotiations, could affect international investments and the national economy.
Current Access Restrictions and Government Stance
Panama’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry has explicitly stated that no authorization has been granted for visits to the shuttered Cobre Panama mine [1]. This stance comes as First Quantum Minerals, the mine’s operator, faces ongoing challenges since the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in November 2023, which declared the operating contract unconstitutional [2].
Public Opposition and Recent Protests
Public resistance to mining operations has intensified, with a significant protest occurring on March 23, 2025, during a vigil called ‘For Our Water’ on Panama’s coastal strip [3]. The demonstration highlighted growing public opposition, with recent polling data showing that 63.6% of Panamanians oppose the mine’s reactivation [2]. President José Raúl Mulino’s characterization of mining opponents as ‘five cats’ during a March 20 press conference has further intensified public outcry, with protesters adopting cat imagery as a symbol of resistance [3].
Legal and Economic Implications
The dispute carries significant economic implications, as Cobre Panama previously contributed approximately 4% to Panama’s national GDP [2]. First Quantum Minerals initiated a $20 billion arbitration suit following the contract cancellation in December 2023, though recent developments indicate the company’s willingness to suspend these proceedings to facilitate discussions about reopening the mine [2]. President Mulino has made it clear that any negotiations regarding the mine’s future are contingent upon First Quantum dropping its arbitration claims [2][3].
Environmental Concerns and Future Outlook
Environmental organizations have raised serious concerns about the mine’s impact, with local activists like Carlos Cruz of Warriors of the Sea highlighting the devastation of thousands of hectares of virgin mountains [2]. The Executive Director of CIAM, Lilian González Guevara, has emphasized that the only coordination between the Panamanian government and First Quantum should focus on implementing a safe and transparent closure process [2]. As of March 27, 2025, the situation remains at an impasse, with the government maintaining its restrictive stance while facing pressure from both environmental activists and economic interests.