The government approved an action plan for the orderly closure of the mine

He Cabinet Council approved by Government Resolution 19-24orders state institutions to adopt the necessary administrative measures in order to comply with the judgment passed by the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court of Justice on November 27, 2023.

With this judgment, Law 406 of October 20, 2023which approved the legal contract concluded between the State of Panama and the company Minera Panamá, SA and which establishes the basis for the preparation and implementation of the final orderly closure of the activity.

The resolution orders all ministries and related centralized and decentralized institutions to, in accordance with their legal powers and functions, continue with the administrative measures necessary for the preparation and implementation Ordered plan for final closure of Cobre Panamá mine.

This measure establishes that the ministries Trade and Industry (MICI) and Environment (MiAmbiente) adopt administrative measures in accordance with the Law on Mineral Resources and in accordance with the current legislation on environmental protection, so that Minera Panamá SA guarantees the physical and chemical stability of the ecological ecosystems and infrastructure in the Cobre Panamá mine and its surrounding areas, through the implementation of the environmental protection Plan of conservation and safe management (care and maintenance) as a temporary phase and the first step towards the Ordered Plan for the final closure of the Cobre Panamá mine.

On its part, Ministry of Health (Minsa) they must adopt the necessary health measures, aimed at formulating, planning, directing, coordinating, executing, monitoring and evaluating strategies for the prevention and control of health in general.

While MiAmbiente will adopt the necessary administrative measures to carry out an environmental audit at the closure, in order to determine the environmental condition of the mine, environmental risks and their mitigation, rehabilitation and other measures, as responsible measures for the Ordered Plan for the final closure of the Panamanian copper mine.

In addition, the Resolution envisages the implementation of a comprehensive audit of the control of the management of the mining process, so that the State of Panama receives relevant technical information for the optimal application and supervision of the processes necessary for the execution of the Ordered Plan for the final closure of Panama. Copper mine.

Both MICI and Mi Ambiente will have to carry out the necessary administrative actions to request the preparation of the Ordered Plan for the definitive closure of the Panama Cobra mine, including the formation of a panel of technical experts, as well as the establishment of mechanisms for citizen consultation, participation and oversight. There will be technical and scientific support from National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (Senacyt).

In the meantime, Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (Mitradel)will verify compliance with the labor regulations applicable to the existing labor relationship between the workers of the Cobre Panamá Project and Minera Panamá, SA and its subcontractors, and the Ministry of Public Security will have to guarantee safety, peace and public order in the facilities of the Cobre Panamá mine and its neighboring areas.

It was also determined that the MICI together with the MEF will coordinate and implement the necessary administrative actions to guarantee the defense of the interests of the Republic of Panama before any national or international instance, as a result of compliance with the decision issued by the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court of Justice.

The approved government resolution also indicates that the Development Planning Institute, through the MEF, will establish the foundations for formulating, approving and executing a strategy for the sustainable replacement of metal mining in National gross domestic product.