View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. The disruption was caused by an "illegal blockade" of small boats at the mine's Punta Rincon port, the company said in a statement. The protests began after the Panamanian government and First Quantum signed a new contract on Oct. 20 for Cobre Panama, which contributes 1% to global copper production and 5% to Panama's gross domestic product. The demonstrators say the new terms are too generous to First Quantum and allege corrupt practices in its approval. A reduction of ore processing could potentially impact about 2% of Panama's national workforce, the company said, adding that two ore processing trains remain operational.

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Persons: Sourasis Bose, Valentine Hilaire, Sriraj Kalluvila, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Cobre, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Rincon, Panamanian, Cobre Panama, Bengaluru, Mexico City