First Quantum halts public tours of closed Panama copper mine

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) -First Quantum Minerals said on Thursday it would suspend public tours of its shuttered copper mine in Panama after the country's president said the Canadian miner should not give the impression that the site is operational.

In a regular press conference earlier on Thursday, President Jose Raul Mulino said there had been no discussion with the company or further progress on resolving the issue of the mine. The government ordered its closure in late 2023 following public protests over environmental concerns.

"I don't want them to give the impression that the mine is operating," he said.

First Quantum's local unit, Cobre Panama, responded several hours later in a social media post.

"We have heard the statements from the National Government and have decided to suspend the public visit program to the mine," the post said.

When asked at the press conference if he would sign a new contract with First Quantum in Panama, Mulino said that possibility could be looked at down the line.

"Everything will be studied, but right now we don't have anyone to study it with," he said. "We hope to cross that bridge when we come to it."

He noted that First Quantum must suspend its arbitration over the mine before the two sides can negotiate next steps, including the export of 120,000 metric tons of copper concentrate left at the site.

(Reporting by Elida Moreno, Daina Beth Solomon, Natalia Ramos and Juana Casas; Editing by Sarah Morland and Richard Chang)