Cobre Panama opens mine doors to Panamanian society

Panama City, February 20, 2024 – Cobre Panama today presented at a press conference the launch of its new Visitor and Citizen Participation Program, which will allow Panamanian society to learn first-hand what is happening at the mine site. This initiative opens the doors of Cobre Panama to share the company’s commitment to transparency in creating relationships with the Panamanian people, based on respect and mutual understanding. In the current context, Cobre Panama reiterates its willingness to be part of the solution.

The program stems from an opinion survey recently conducted by Gallup, in which nearly half of the interviewees expressed interest in visiting the mine if given the opportunity, motivated by the desire to see the facilities and, mainly, by the desire to verify the veracity of the information they are receiving through social networks and negative news.

In the words of Maru Galvez, spokesperson for Cobre Panama: “We have great expectations that this experience will be enriching for all participants and that it will give them the opportunity to learn about the reality for themselves. We want to refute the misinformation that has been generated around the operation of the mine. We have always been known for our responsible management and we are sure that those who have the opportunity to participate will be able to see first-hand the commitment and seriousness with which we carry out our activities”.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn in detail how the Preservation and Safe Management Plan (PGS) phase is being carried out. The implementation of environmental stability and asset integrity measures is the first step necessary to ensure responsible and ongoing site management following the abrupt cessation of operations.

All citizens wishing to attend can register today and make an appointment through the transparenciacobrepanama.com platform. During the tour, visitors will be accompanied by Panamanian ambassadors, professionals and engineers who work at the site and know it well. They are best placed to explain the activities being carried out and answer any questions that may arise.

Main points of the route.

Wildlife crossings. It will be explained how, before building the road, a study was done to mark the heat zones where the animals pass through and, taking this into account, eleven wildlife crossings were built to maintain the continuity of the Mesoamerican biological corridor. These wildlife crossings are monitored by the largest network of cameras in the country and it is the only road that crosses the biological corridor that has wildlife crossings.

Reforestation. Visit to the middle river and the forest cover, which allows species that require shade to reproduce forming a secondary forest, and demonstration of the progressive rehabilitation and reforestation program.

Tailings management facility. Tailings are the pulverized rock remaining after the process, separating the ore from the rock. The tailings management facility is designed and monitored under international standards to safely manage and contain this material. The Cobre Panama site receives up to five meters of rainfall per year, so water treatment and management at the tailings management facility is key and is carefully monitored according to the Environmental Impact Study.

Water quality metrics and pH level will be displayed. Visitors will be able to observe for themselves the fish life that has been so often incorrectly questioned.

El Tajo or open pit excavation. There the ambassadors will explain the processes that are being carried out to maintain the stability of the site, according to the Preservation and Safe Management plan, as well as the mining processes that took place before the abrupt cessation of operations.

The mills. The ambassadors will also demonstrate the preservation work being carried out at the plant to preserve the integrity of the assets and provide more information on how the ore processing and copper concentrate production operations functioned prior to the cessation of operations.

The 300 MW power plant, which generates enough energy to light the entire Azuero Peninsula and the excess energy contributed to the grid could reduce costs for the entire country, will be on display.

For more information, visit transparenciacobrepanama.com.