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On June 22, thousands of former workers, supplier company members, and local residents marched in Penonomé, Panama, urging President José Raúl Mulino to reopen the Cobre Panama copper mine. The mine, operated by Minera Panamá, a subsidiary of Canada’s First Quantum Minerals, was shut down following a Supreme Court ruling that declared its contract unconstitutional in 2023.
The mine had produced 330,863 tonnes of copper in 2023 and was expected to ramp up to 100 million tonnes annually by 2024, potentially making it one of the top copper operations worldwide. Local economies have suffered since the mine’s closure in November 2023, leading to protests that previously paralyzed the country over contract reconsiderations.
Protest participant Cecilia Martínez emphasized the community’s desire for decent work and equitable opportunities, highlighting the negative impact of the closure on local livelihoods. Previous attempts to negotiate a new contract between First Quantum and the Panamanian government followed a series of public protests.
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