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(Reuters) - A large blaze at a garbage dump outside Panama City blew a toxic smoke in the country's capital on Friday, forcing evacuations as firefighters battled to put out the flames that authorities said were likely caused by arson the night before. "Everything points to the fire being started deliberately," firefighter chief Ernesto de Leon told a press conference. Health Minister Luis Francisco Sucre told reporters evacuations were being effected to protect residents from the flames and toxic gases. Videos on social media showed a helicopter flying above the thick gray smoke spraying down water as birds scatter overhead. Since 6 a.m. some 7,360 gallons (around 28,000 liters) of water have been sprayed over the area, authorities told reporters, saying some 60% of the blaze was controlled and this could reach 90% by Saturday.
Persons: Firefighers, Ernesto de Leon, Luis Francisco Sucre, Sucre, Angel Delgado, Laurentino Cortizo, Sarah Morland, Valentine Hilaire, Sandra Maler Organizations: Reuters, Panama City, Health, La Prensa, Saturday, La, Cerro Patacon Locations: Panama, Cerro
View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. Some experts calculate Panama would have to pay at least $50 billion if it loses the case, equivalent to nearly 70% of GDP. Ahead of the supreme court ruling, S&P revised Panama's outlook to negative from stable on potential risks to investor confidence and economic growth if the contract was found invalid. For First Quantum, the developments in Panama could be a repeat of its experience in the Democratic Republic Of Congo. The miner exited the African nation in 2012 after its mining contract was cancelled.
Persons: Hernan Arboleda, Laurentino Cortizo, Panamanians, Arboleda, Elida Moreno, Valentine Hilaire, Anthony Esposito, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris Mart, PANAMA CITY, Reuters, Gross, Panama, JPMorgan, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, PANAMA, Democratic Republic Of Congo
View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. The company has notified buyers it will not be able to meet agreements due to force majeure, Pascall added. Panama's top court issued a ruling deeming First Quantum's contract with the government to operate a key copper mine unconstitutional. The Canadian miner said on Friday it has initiated arbitration against Panama, with Pascall noting the company still does not know the amount it will be asking from the country during the process. Reporting by Elida Moreno and Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Brendan O'BoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Tristan Pascall, majeure, Pascall, Laurentino Cortizo, Elida Moreno, Valentine Hilaire, Brendan O'Boyle Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Panamanian, La Prensa, Panama, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso
[1/2] File photo: People react after Panama's top court ruled the mining contract with Canadian miner First Quantum to operate a copper mine in the country as unconstitutional following weeks of protests against the deal, in Panama City, Panama November 28, 2023. REUTERS/Aris Martinez/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 2 (Reuters) - Panama published a ruling finding Canadian miner First Quantum's (FM.TO) contract for an open-pit copper mine in the Central American country unconstitutional in the official gazette on Saturday. The contract had triggered caused widespread protests in Panama, and President Laurentino Cortizo said on Tuesday the mine would close as soon as the Supreme Court's ruling was formally published in the official gazette. Reporting by Valentine Hilaire; Writing by Alexander Villegas; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Aris Martinez, Laurentino Cortizo, Valentine Hilaire, Alexander Villegas, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Central American, Thomson Locations: Panama City, Panama
View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Aris Martínez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 1 (Reuters) - First Quantum Minerals (FM.TO) has suspended its current-year production outlook for the Cobre mine in Panama and has initiated international arbitration over a contested contract with the country's government, the miner said on Friday. The Canadian company said its local unit had started arbitration before the International Court of Arbitration to protect its rights under the 2023 concession. On Tuesday, President Laurentino Cortizo said the Cobre Panama mine would be shut down, hours after Panama's Supreme Court declared the contract unconstitutional. The miner exited the African nation in 2012 after filing an arbitration procedure for cancelling its mining contract.
Persons: Laurentino Cortizo, Tristan Pascall, Tanay, Devika Syamnath Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, International Court, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Miami , Florida, Democratic Republic Of Congo, Bengaluru
PANAMA CITY, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Panama's Trade Minister Federico Alfaro announced his resignation on Thursday days after the country's top court ruled a contract between the government and Canadian miner First Quantum < FM.TO> was unconstitutional. The Central American country's trade ministry led negotiations on a contract between the government and First Quantum to operate a key copper mine, which opponents have deemed as too generous to the miner. In a resignation letter addressed to the president and shared on social media, Alfaro mentioned the contract, which generated months of protest throughout Panama, as well as the court ruling. Cortizo announced on Tuesday he will follow through with First Quantum's mine shutdown once the court's ruling is published in the country's official gazette, which has not yet happened. Incoming trade minister Rivera said in a separate public statement the ministry is evaluating actions to comply with the court's ruling and will start coordination talks with labor and environmental authorities.
Persons: Federico Alfaro, Alfaro, Laurentino Cortizo, Jorge Rivera, Cortizo, Rivera, Eli Moreno, Brendan O'Boyle, Isabel Woodford Organizations: PANAMA CITY, Panama's Trade, Central American, Thomson Locations: PANAMA, Panama, Lincoln
View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. The comments are the first by the company on the future of the Cobre Panama mine's ownership since Tuesday's court ruling. Panama has seen unprecedented public protests after the government signed a new contract with First Quantum for its Cobre Panama mine. MacWilliam told the conference that given the events in Panama, it remains unclear when Cobre Panama will be able to resume operations. The mine closure also has consequences for the Central American nation, as Cobre Panama contributes about 5% to Panama's economy.
Persons: Laurentino Cortizo, Ryan MacWilliam, MacWilliam, Divya Rajagopal, Elida Moreno, Denny Thomas, Chizu Nomiyama, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Rights TORONTO, Quantum, Scotiabank, Reuters, Jiangxi Copper Co, Central, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Canadian, Jiangxi, Central American, Lincoln
"We have decided to unanimously declare unconstitutional the entire law 406 of October 20, 2023," Supreme Court President Maria Eugenia Lopez said. First Quantum acknowledged the ruling and affirmed its "unwavering commitment to regulatory compliance in all aspects of our operations within the country." Panama President Laurentino Cortizo said the country will abide by the court ruling. For First Quantum, the Panama ruling would be a repeat of its decade-old experience in the Democratic Republic Of Congo. The company exited DRC in 2012 after it filed an arbitration procedure against the African country for cancelling its mining contract.
Persons: Aris Martinez, Maria Eugenia Lopez, Quantum, Laurentino Cortizo, Morgan, Ricardo Martinelli, Leonardo Di Caprio, Elida Moreno, Valentine Hilaire, Natalia Siniawski, Denny Thomas, Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Porter Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, PANAMA CITY, Reuters, Panama, London Metal Exchange, Central, RBC, Democratic, Natural Resources Corporation PLC, Cobre, Thomson Locations: Panama's, Panama, Panama City, PANAMA, Central American, Democratic Republic Of Congo, Hollywood, Cobre Panama
CNN —Anti-mining protests that have roiled Panama for the last two weeks turned deadly on Tuesday when a man allegedly shot and killed two demonstrators, according to police. For weeks, tens of thousands of protestors have vented their fury at a controversial mining contract given to Minera Panama, the local subsidiary of a Canadian mining company, to extract copper, a key component in electric car batteries. Teachers march to protest the deaths of two people during a demonstration against the government's contract with Canadian mining company First Quantum and its subsidiary Minera Panama in Panama City on November 8, 2023. Roberto Cisneros/AFP/Getty ImagesA march against the government contract with Canadian mining company First Quantum and its subsidiary Minera Panama in Panama City on November 3, 2023. In 2017, Panama’s Supreme Court declared another contract to operate the copper mine as unconstitutional, forcing the mining company and government to renegotiate the deal.
Persons: Manuel Noriega, Roberto Cisneros, Panamanians, Martita Cornejo, Panama John Feeley, , Weeks, Laurentino Cortizo, , ” Cortizo Organizations: CNN, Twitter, Pan, Panama’s National Police, Central, Minerals, Minera, AFP, Getty, , Panama’s Locations: Panama, Central American, Canadian, Minera Panama, Panama City, Panamanian, Colombia, Panamanian State
PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panama’s President, Laurentino Cortizo, signed into law an indefinite moratorium on new mining concessions Friday. An article was removed, however, that would have revoked a controversial mining contract that sparked nationwide protests over the past two weeks. Minera Panama is a local subsidiary of Canadian mining company First Quantum. Protests continued across the country Friday, drawing supporters from Indigenous groups and unions across the education, construction and medical sectors. In 2017, El Salvador’s congress passed a total ban on the mining of metals in the country, becoming one of the first countries to enact such a broad ban.
Persons: , Laurentino Cortizo, Cortizo Organizations: PANAMA CITY, Panama’s Locations: PANAMA, Panama, Colon, El
Panama's legislature first agreed a contract extension with Canadian mining company First Quantum and it's local subsidiary, Minera Panama, in March. Eight lawsuits were also filed with Panama's Supreme Court arguing it was unconstitutional. Critics warned using a new law to revoke the contract could leave the government liable to legal action from Minera Panama. Earlier in the day nurses marched to the Supreme Court building to demand judges prioritize the constitutionality lawsuits. The mine is “in the middle of a jungle,” according to Minera Panama’s own contractor, Jan De Nu Group.
Persons: , Laurentino Cortizo, Cortizo, Minera, Jan De, El Organizations: PANAMA CITY, National Assembly, Minera, Mineral Resources, Panama's, Toronto Stock Exchange, Supreme Court, Jan De Nu, Global Forest Watch, El Nino Locations: PANAMA, Minera Panama, Colon, Panama
View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. First Quantum on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law with the objective of benefiting Panama. First Quantum and its local unit Minera Panama declined to comment further. A decision to cancel the Cobre Panama mine's contract could slow Panama's GDP growth from an anticipated 6% in 2023 to just 1% without the mine in operation on an annualized basis. The odds of Panama losing its investment-grade rating would rise significantly if the contract is revoked, J.P Morgan warned on Tuesday.
Persons: Laurentino, J.P Morgan, Adriana Linares, Jackie Przybylowski, Michael Camacho, Frank De Lima, Juan Diego Vasquez, Edison Broce, Divya Rajagopal, Valentine Hilaire, Elida Moreno, Steve Scherer, Denny Thomas, Rod Nickel Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Quantum Minerals, Panama, Canada's Global Affairs, Reuters, Bank of Montreal, Finance, Economy, Independent, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Vancouver, Canada, Toronto
Panama's President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 19, 2023. "I've respectfully listened to those who oppose the contract with Minera Panama," Cortizo said, using the name of First Quantum's local unit. Neither First Quantum nor Minera Panama immediately responded to requests for comment. On Saturday, Minera Panama voiced concern after protesters on boats approached the international Punta Rincon port where it operates. After Cortizo's announcement, Panama's main workers' union said its members will keep protesting in the streets until the contract is annulled.
Persons: Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, Eduardo Munoz, Laurentino Cortizo, Cortizo, I've, Minera, Valentine Hilaire, Elida Moreno, Daina Beth Solomon, Christian Schmollinger, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: General Assembly, REUTERS, PANAMA CITY, Sunday Panama, Minera, Central, Protesters, Critics, Punta Rincon, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, PANAMA, Panama, Central American, Minera Panama
TORONTO, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Shares in First Quantum Minerals (FM.TO) closed down 28% on Monday after Panama's government said it will hold a referendum on whether to scrap a mining contract awarded to the Canadian mining company on Oct. 20. Shares of First Quantum closed at C$20 after falling as much as 30% earlier in the trading session. President Laurentino Cortizo's decision to hold a binding referendum on Dec. 17 comes after 10 months of disputes regarding First Quantum's open pit mine at Cobre Panama. Thousands of people hit the streets over last weekend after the government approved the new contract with the company. Cobre Panama represents nearly 5% of Panama's gross domestic product and 1.5% of global copper production, according to RBC Capital Markets.
Persons: Panama's, Laurentino, Jefferies, Divya Rajagopal, Eli Moreno, Valentine Hilarie, Tomasz Janowski, Will Dunham, Jan Harvey Organizations: TORONTO, Quantum Minerals, Central American, Cobre, RBC Capital Markets, Thomson Locations: Toronto, Panama, Cobre Panama, Panama City
MEXICO CITY, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Panama electoral court said in a statement on Monday that there are not currently "conditions" to hold a referendum on a controversial mining contract with Canada's First Quantum Miners. President Laurentino Cortizo said on Sunday Panama would hold a referendum to decide whether to scrap a contract with Canadian miner First Quantum's local unit following days of protests in opposition to the open pit copper mine project. Reporting by Valentine Hilaire; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Isabel WoodfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Laurentino Cortizo, Valentine Hilaire, Brendan O'Boyle, Isabel Woodford Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Canada's, Miners, Sunday Panama, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Panama
View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. President Laurentino Cortizo announced that the new mining restrictions will apply to both future mining projects as well as those currently seeking permits. The abrupt mining pause comes barely a week after Cortizo hailed the revised contract that allows the local unit of Canada's First Quantum (FM.TO) to continue operating its lucrative Cobre Panama project. "Panama is a mining country," Alexander told Reuters, arguing that without the mine, the country's economy would barely grow this year, versus the robust 6% growth the government estimates. The Cobre Panama mine alone accounts for nearly 5% of Panama's economy.
Persons: Laurentino Cortizo, Cortizo, Hector Alexander, Alexander, Panama's, Edison Broce, Valentine Hilaire, Christian Plumb, Marguerita Choy, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso
View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Aris Martínez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies First Quantum Minerals Ltd FollowPANAMA CITY, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Police arrested nearly 50 protesters in Panama in confrontations over a new government-approved contract for a major copper mine, officials said on Tuesday, adding that five police officers were injured in the clashes. Last week, lawmakers gave final approval for the extended concession covering the Cobre Panama mine operated by Canada's First Quantum (FM.TO). Some locals and civic organizations have opposed the contract due largely to concerns about the mine's environmental impact. The police noted two officers were wounded by gunshots on Monday night in Panama City, while three others where beaten in a street blockade in Chiriqui.
Persons: Laurentino Cortizo, Elida Moreno, Sarah Morland, David Alire Garcia, Rod Nickel Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Quantum Minerals, PANAMA CITY, Police, Pan, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Colon, Chiriqui, Central America, Panama City
PANAMA CITY (AP) — Protesters blocked streets across Panama on Monday, demanding the government rescind a contract to continue copper mining in a biodiverse region. Across Panama City, peaceful protesters handed out fliers, but in some areas on the outskirts of the capital police met protesters with tear gas. The government used social media to highlight the “enormous contribution” the mine — Panama's largest private investment ever — makes to the country's economy. Minera Panama says the mine will employ thousands of Panamanians and that its shipments make 80% of the country's total exports. The new contract, initially slowed by labor disagreements, secures Panama at least $375 million a year from Minera Panama, over 10 times more than the previous deal.
Persons: Laurentino Cortizo, Fernando Abrego, , Saúl Méndez, Abrego Organizations: PANAMA CITY, , Department of Education, University of Panama, Minera, Panama's Association of Teachers, Teachers Locations: PANAMA, Panama, Colon, Panama City, Panama's, Minera Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador,
On Thursday, the U.S. said it was restarting deportations of Venezuelans who cross the U.S.-Mexico border unlawfully. Mexico, on Friday, said it was seeking to return migrants to Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. A record of 417,000 migrants have crossed the Darien Gap this year, more than double the number in all of last year. "Crossing the Darien is hell," said Panama President Laurentino Crotizo in a statement, after touring the area via plane with Costa Rica counterpart Rodrigo Chaves. In the last three weeks, more than 27,000 migrants have been "persuaded to get down from trains," INM said.
Persons: Laurentino Cortizo, Rodrigo Chaves, Lajas, Sherly, Kelvin Romero, Laurentino Crotizo, Ana Cordova, INM, Elida Moreno, Valentine Hilare, Beth Solomon, Stephen Eisenhammer, Sandra Maler Organizations: Costa Rica, REUTERS Acquire, Migration Institute, Ore, Thomson Locations: Panama, Costa, Darien province, U.S, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua, Darien, Costa Rica, Venezuelan, Meteti, Mexico City
The Central American nation urgently needs to exit the watch lists so it can reclaim its place as a financial hub, Deputy Financial Minister Jorge Almengor said in an interview late on Wednesday. In 2019 FATF again placed Panama on its list, saying the country was making too little progress on financial transparency. In 2020, the European Union added Panama to its own list of countries deemed "noncooperative" for tax purposes. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has also included Panama on its own watch list. He said the visit should result in Panama's removal from the watch list at an October plenary meeting of FATF.
Persons: Jorge Almengor, Panama's, FATF, Josep Borrell, Laurentino Cortizo, Almengor, Valentine Hilaire, Sarah Morland, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Central American, Union, Organization, Economic Co, Development, Panamanian, EU, Thomson Locations: Panama, Mexico
At least 39 migrants die in bus crash off Panama cliff
  + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Elida Moreno | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
[1/4] Rescue teams work at the site of the accident of a bus, which was carrying migrants who had traveled through the Darien gap, in Los Planes de Gualaca, Panama February 15, 2023. REUTERS/StringerPANAMA CITY, Feb 15 (Reuters) - At least 39 have died in Panama after a bus carrying more than 60 migrants fell off a cliff early on Wednesday, the country's migration authorities said, marking the worst migration accident in the Central American country's history. Migration authorities did not provide details on the nationalities of the victims, saying it would first communicate with the relatives and respective embassies of the passengers. Last year, a record 248,000 migrants crossed the Darien Gap, most of them Venezuelans. Since the beginning of 2023, a further 32,800 have crossed the Darien Gap, Panama's foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
However, no agreement was forthcoming, prompting the two sides to raise the stakes to protect their interests in the mine, known as Cobre Panama. "Cobre Panama is the only metal mine operating in the country and many foreign companies started operations in Panama with its arrival. Failure to reach a deal could spook foreign investors at a time when Panama is looking to develop three other copper deposits that could bring in similar investments to Cobre Panama, said Morales. First Quantum paid $61 million in royalties to Panama's government in 2021, while the Cobre Panama mine posted sales revenues of $3.2 billion for the year, company data show. LUCRATIVE ASSETIn 2021, Cobre Panama represented more than half of First Quantum's earnings before interest, tax depreciation and amortization (EBITDA).
PANAMA CITY, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Panama's president, Laurentino Cortizo, said on Monday the government has presented Canadian miner First Quantum Minerals (FM.TO) a final contract to regulate operations. Cortizo, during a speech to the nation, vowed to abide by the constitution in the negotiations and to establish a "fair relationship" between the parties. The two sides are at odds over such issues as contract stability and the government's plan to increase annual royalties to $375 million, which has been at the forefront of discussions. Crispiano Adames, president of the country's National Assembly, said during a separate speech he had proposed a new mining code to avoid the needs of Panama being put behind those of multinational companies. Reporting by Milagro Vallecillos in Panama City Editing by Anthony Esposito and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
PANAMA CITY, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Panama's government ordered Canada's First Quantum Minerals (FM.TO) on Thursday to pause operations at its flagship copper mine in the country after missing a deadline to finalize a deal that would have increased payments to the government from the mine. The government had given Minera Panama, which is majority-owned by First Quantum Minerals, until Wednesday to sign an agreement reached in January to pay $375 million a year to the government from its Cobre Panama mine. Panama's government ordered the commerce and industry ministry to suspend Minera Panama's operations at the mine after a midnight deadline was missed. Months of talks between the miner and government continued until early morning Thursday, the commerce and industry ministry said. First Quantum Mineral's $6 billion investment in the open-pit mine, where operations began in 2019, is considered the largest private investment in the Central American country and accounts for roughly 3.5% of Panama's gross domestic product.
Panama president to travel to U.S. for medical follow-up
  + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: 1 min
PANAMA CITY, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo will travel to Houston, Texas on Friday for follow-up treatment regarding the blood disorder he was diagnosed with in July, known as myelodysplasia, the presidency said in a statement Thursday. Cortizo will be in the United States until Nov. 17 for the medical evaluation, the presidency said. Reporting by Eli Moreno; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Anthony EspositoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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