Cobre Panamá: Panama exports copper concentrate amid ongoing legal reviews

Panamanian authorities are managing the shipment of approximately 33,000 tons of copper concentrate from the Cobre Panamá project to Europe. Minister of Commerce and Industry Julio Moltó clarified that this movement of existing or stored material does not constitute a reopening of the mine or a final decision regarding its future.

The government is currently conducting technical, legal, and environmental evaluations. An inter-institutional commission is tasked with reviewing the project's status, audits, and available alternatives, with recommendations expected to be presented to President José Raúl Mulino before the end of 2026.

The situation remains legally complex, as Panama faces three international arbitrations related to the mining project involving claims of approximately US$27 billion. Any final decision regarding the mine must adhere to current legislation, the Supreme Court's rulings, and the existing mining moratorium.