How is water managed in the Cobre Panama mine?

In 2018, Institute for Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Ideja), entity of Colombian governmentmade available National Water Study (ENA), revealing that mining is far from being the main consumer of water in the aforementioned sister country. Specifically, he clarified that the economic activities with the largest share in water consumption are “agriculture with 43.1%, energy with 24.3% and animal husbandry with 8.2%, concentrating 76% of the national need for water, while mining has a share of 3 .5% in water consumption, demand for this water resource.

IN Panama, there is a variety of sectors that use water resources, whose consumption varies according to their own needs and dynamics. Although there is no report as specific as the one from Colombia, which includes the mining industry, the Ministry of Environment information in its book “Water supply and use in Panama, based on the results of the Water Account for the Environment 2000-2018.“; explains that among the main uses of water in our country are the purification of water for human consumption, the operation of the Panama Canal, agricultural irrigation, industrial use and electricity generation.

Study of An idea from Colombiamentioned, it was published precisely because there are a number of myths surrounding water management in mining, especially in our country, in the mine Copper Panama is located in Donoso, Colón Province. However, it was the mine experts who clarified how water resources are managed in the area.

IN Panama, there are abundant water sources in which precipitation plays an important role. The amount of total precipitation in the country is estimated at 233.8 billion m³/year, therefore, according to Iliana Rodríguez, Minera Panama’s environmental officer, 99% of the water used in the Cobra Panama project is mainly for mineral extraction and dust control. is rainwater that falls and collects inside the mine facilities.

“Only 1% of the remaining water is taken from the harbor area of ​​one of the streams, but the majority is taken from precipitation. In the area of ​​Cobra Panama, we have an annual rainfall of approximately five meters per year; In other mines, we estimated the differences that one meter of rain can fall per year. We emphasize that Panama is the fifth country with the most precipitation and more in the Caribbean area where the Cobra Panama project is located,” he explains.

There is a decantation lagoon where most of the water goes; approximately six million water per cubic meter. After being used in the metal separation process, 78% of that water is recirculated through pipes that redirect it into the process.

Rodríguez makes it clear that the project does not use water from the Panama Canal Basin, which is 60 km away, with three basins between the two projects. Cobre Panama uses only 0.003% of the country’s available water and comes from two sub-basins: Coclé del Norte and Caimito.

“0.155 km³ represents mine consumption, which is equivalent to 0.003% of water availability in the whole country,” he notes.

Water quality

In the face of constant scrutiny, Rodríguez reiterated that this does not affect the availability of water in the rivers surrounding the mining operation, as well as water quality, aquatic biodiversity and various ecosystem services.

This was made possible by implementing effective operational controls, including a water quality monitoring program that covers 360 degrees around the mine. To cover the 18 km surface area of ​​influence, 264 monitoring points were established where samples are taken to measure the quality of surface, sea, underground, residual, service and technological waters, among others.

In addition, there is an early warning system for monitoring rivers and streams, which consists of 43 control stations with probes that measure physico-chemical parameters and 17 cameras for monitoring the behavior of tributaries during rainfall.

The monitoring program is carried out by 17 experts, who ensure the collection and transport of samples, online monitoring and the delivery of semi-annual reports to the Ministry of Environmental Protection proving that “all parameters are met”, he said. Rodriguez stated.

In monitoring water quality, not only experts participate, but also 14 communities that live near the streams and rivers that surround the mine; to guarantee the reliability and completeness of the results obtained from the water samples obtained by the residents themselves in the field.

Except, Copper Panama It has a staff that guarantees preventive maintenance of more than 150 km of pipes, valves, sensors, flanges and pumps.

Mining experts remind that in Environmental impact study III. of the Cobra Panamá category371 obligations were undertaken: 265 ecological (ensuring the quality of soil, air, noise and vibrations, hydrology, water quality, heritage) and 71 biological diversity (biodiversity action plan and protection of flora and fauna), which are fulfilled.