Minera Panama threatens to shut down processing operations

In a letter sent to the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), the Canadian transnational subsidiary of First Quantum indicated that a suspension was imminent, due to the restriction of loading of copper concentrates at the international port of Punta Rincon, in the Caribbean province. Colon.

Minera Panamá stated that they had attempted to create additional warehousing space, but without the option to load and ship materials, this capacity to store product was reduced.

For some environmental and social organizations it is a measure of pressure, the last ultimatum insisting that shipments be allowed to resume, given that the decision prohibiting this has been complied with and that the respective appeals have also been lodged. suspend its legal effects.

The letter reads: “If we are allowed to load the vessel, there will be storage capacity to continue operations for approximately 15 days while we hold meetings with the government over a controversial unsigned concession contract.

On the other hand, AMP has not decided on the resources the company has provided to lift restrictions on the operation of the Port of Punta Rincon.

On February 13, Cobre Panamá submitted its latest report to AMP, certifying that the certification process for calibration of balances by an accredited company had begun, but still no response, referring to this text.

However, the General Authority said, in its opinion, that the reference to stopping port operations responds to the purpose of enforcing the international agreements signed by the Central American country, which aim to protect human life at sea and avoid pollution disasters in the waters. .

For her part, environmental activist Raisa Banfield filed a lawsuit against the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo, to interfere with a subsidiary of the Canadian cross-border company First Quantum, which is in violation of the order issued since December last year to stop commercial operations.

While spokesmen for the popular coalitions described any negotiations the executive branch is conducting with the mining company, whose concession contract was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Justice in 2017, as inappropriate.

ode/ga