On Natural Resources Month, Cobre Panama reaffirms its commitment as an environmentally responsible mining model

– The mining company has invested more than US$136 million in environmental and social programs.
– 99.9% of the water used by Cobre Panama in its operation is rainwater.
– Cobre Panama consumes less than 0.003% of the country’s water availability.
– Copper is an essential mineral for the transition to clean energy.

Panama, June 19, 2023 – During Natural Resources Month, which is celebrated every June, Cobre Panama reaffirms its commitment to preserve the environment through specific actions in highly relevant aspects such as the conservation of biodiversity and protected areas, as well as the care of water, among other initiatives.

“In the current times, with the El Niño phenomenon we are facing, taking care of water is essential and it is everyone’s responsibility. For this reason, at Cobre Panama we have a very robust and complete water quality monitoring program that covers 360 degrees around the mine,” said Alejandro Chambi, Environmental Manager of Cobre Panama.

Cobre Panama’s monitoring network is the most dense in the country, consisting of more than 250 monitoring points, with daily, weekly, biweekly and monthly frequency, to obtain more than 100 parameters in certified international laboratories.

In addition, the mine has an early warning system to monitor the quality of fresh water in real time with 16 video cameras that project its physical state and 43 stations with probes that measure physicochemical parameters.

“99.9% of all water used at Cobre Panama comes from the rain that falls on our facilities and we capture it for treatment and use it for mostly ore processing, as well as for dust and fire control. We recirculate 78% of the total water captured at our mine facilities,” added Chambi.

Chambi also explained that Cobre Panama’s fresh water consumption is only 0.15 km3 equivalent to less than 0.003% of Panama’s water availability.

Cobre Panama is the largest reforester and agroforester in Panama. It has nurseries of commercial and native species that produce more than one million seedlings per year. It also has an in vitro micropropagation laboratory for the reproduction of native Panamanian species.

This year an agreement of understanding was renewed between Cobre Panama and the Ministry of the Environment with which the mining company reaffirms its financial support for the conservation of biological diversity and the long-term strengthening of the connectivity of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. As part of this agreement, the company is providing resources to improve operational capacities and improve and/or implement infrastructure in the Omar Torrijos, Santa Fe, and Donoso Managed Resource Area national parks, with an annual contribution of US$300,000, US$800,000, and $1-2 million, respectively.

The company also works with several scientific organizations for the conservation of species such as the jaguar, 5 species of amphibians, 4 species of turtles and protects more than 46 pairs of harpy eagles in Donoso and Darien.

Cobre Panama remains committed to continue protecting and conserving the environment, generating new sources of employment, supporting education and health, and promoting the social and economic development of its neighboring communities and the country as a whole.

Copper, an essential element for the transition to clean energy
The global trend towards a greener economy is driven by the use of 100% renewable energies, which use copper for their implementation and operation.

Copper is one of the most important minerals for its electrical and thermal conductivity, making it key for wiring, generators, motors, solar heating, heat exchangers and renewable energy solutions.

The challenge of climate change and the need to accelerate the transition to the use of cleaner energies, as well as to mitigate other sources of pollution such as CO2 emissions in transportation, will require an increase in the production of minerals and metals, such as copper, which are essential for this transition to take place.