Cobre Panamá mine closure
- The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
In November 2023 Panama's Supreme Court found the law behind the Cobre Panamá copper mine's concession unconstitutional, and the mine has been closed since. In 2026 reports described a commission proposing talks with the operator, First Quantum, and permission to process stockpiled ore.
Reported claim; La Prensa reported in April 2025 that the proceedings were suspended.
Status As of October 2026: the mine remains closed under the November 2023 Supreme Court ruling; talks and a stockpile-processing permit have been reported, and no reopening decision is recorded.
- First Quantum — Mine operations stopped; pursued an arbitration claim reported at US$20 billion (reported suspended) La Prensa
What happened
In November 2023 the Supreme Court of Panama found unconstitutional the law approving the concession contract for the Cobre Panamá copper mine (Law 406). Jurist described the contract as a 20-year concession for a Canadian copper mine. The mine, operated by First Quantum, has been closed since the ruling, according to Ámbito and Reporte Minero.
First Quantum responded with international arbitration against Panama. La Prensa reported in April 2025 that the company was stepping back from the proceedings, with a claim put at US$20 billion described as suspended.
In 2026 the reports describe a restart under discussion. Kitco reported on 15 January 2026 that Panama aimed to decide on the Cobre Panamá dispute by June. Ámbito and Reporte Minero reported that a technical audit by SGS found “88% compliance”, that environmental organisations objected, that a commission proposed talks with First Quantum, and that permission had been given to process a stockpile of about 38 million tonnes of previously mined ore.
As of the latest reports in October 2026 the mine remained closed under the court ruling, and whether it would reopen had not been settled.
- 2023Supreme Court of Panama finds the law approving the concession contract (Law 406) unconstitutional (November); the mine closes
- 2025La Prensa reports First Quantum stepping back from arbitration against Panama; claim put at US$20 bn (April)
- 2026Kitco: Panama aims to decide on the dispute by June (January); reports of an SGS audit finding 88% compliance, a commission proposing talks with First Quantum, and permission to process a 38 Mt stockpile (July–October)
What was said
“88% compliance”
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
How it looked
Shown
- A technical audit by SGS finding “88% compliance”SGS audit, as reported by Ámbito · Ámbito
Recorded
- The Supreme Court of Panama found the law approving the concession contract (Law 406) unconstitutional in November 2023.
- The mine has been closed by court order since November 2023.
- Environmental organisations objected to the SGS audit result.
- A commission proposed talks with First Quantum, and permission to process a stockpile of about 38 million tonnes was reported to have been given.
- La Prensa reported in April 2025 that First Quantum was stepping back from arbitration proceedings against Panama; the claim was put at US$20 billion.
- Kitco reported on 15 January 2026 that Panama aimed to decide on the Cobre Panamá dispute by June.
- SGS bought Aster Global in January 2025.
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- First Quantum (April 2025): Brought arbitration claims against Panama over the closure; the US$20 billion claim was reported suspended. · La Prensa
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2023-11Claimant wonConstitutional challenge to the Cobre Panamá concession law (Law 406)Supreme Court of Panama · Administrative · Parties challenging Law 406 (not identified) → The law approving the concession contract (the State of Panama)
The court found the law approving the 20-year concession contract for the copper mine unconstitutional. The mine has been closed since. Jurist
- Outcome not on record$20m US$20 billion claimed, as reported (value in billions)First Quantum arbitration against PanamaArbitration (forum not stated) · Arbitration · First Quantum → Panama
First Quantum brought arbitration over the closure. La Prensa reported in April 2025 that the company was stepping back from the proceedings and that the claim, put at US$20 billion, was suspended. La Prensa
Insurers
What nature saw
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
- Disputed Does the mine meet environmental and technical standards?
Court
- Unclear First Quantum arbitration against Panama: outcome not on record.
Figures
- Insufficient Gdp share: Mine's share of Panama's GDP before closure; reported, not independently verified.
- Insufficient Workers added: Reported by SMM News for July 2026; not independently verified.
Accounts
- Disputed Should the mine be reopened?
Record
- Unclear Whether the mine will reopen: the research record states that its status after the 2026 discussions was not known.
- Insufficient Reported but not independently verified: that the mine accounted for about 5% of Panama's gross domestic product before the closure.
- Insufficient Reported but not independently verified: that the closure followed large environmental protests across Panama.
- Insufficient Reported but not independently verified: that in July 2026 First Quantum began processing stored ore, added about 1,000 workers and suspended its US$20 billion arbitration claim (SMM News).
- Insufficient Reported but not independently verified: that in April 2026 preparations were under way to allow processing of 38 million tonnes of previously mined ore.
Did the harm stop?
The mine has been closed by court order since November 2023; in 2026 a restart was under discussion.
Who paid?
Not established. the sources reviewed give no payment for environmental harm and no assessment of damage.
Sources
Press and investigations
- Panamá: reapertura de Cobre Panamá, First Quantum y empresa estatalReporte Minero · 2026-07
- Panama aims to make decision on Cobre Panamá dispute by JuneKitco · 2026-01-15
Connected cases
- SGS audit gives Cobre Panamá mine 88% compliance; environmental groups object Panama · 2023
- First Quantum (Company) — here: Mine operator; there: Company named in proposed reopening talks
- SGS (Company) — here: Auditor of the mine; there: Auditor that reported 88% compliance