"Panama government orders First Quantum to end copper operations", 08 December 2023

...Panama’s trade and industry ministry has ordered First Quantum to end operations at its Cobre Panama copper mine, according to the company.

The ministry sent Cobre Panama a formal advisory that it must “end extraction, processing, refining, transportation, export and sales activities” at the mine.

The government order comes after Panama’s Supreme Court ruled last month that First Quantum’s contract to operate the mine was unconstitutional, following months of protests...

Because it must close the mine, Cobre Panama said it has requested government authorization to lay off more than 4,000 of its employees. Last month, the miner suspended the contracts of 7,000 staff at the mine...