In Panama ‘The Copper Mine has been Managed Environmentally’ Well

The recent tender for a comprehensive audit of the Donoso copper mine, according to Jonatan Montenegro, a biologist with Minera Panamá, will serve to verify to the public that the company has met all the national and international environmental conservation standards required for this type of project.  “Society will have the peace of mind that the mine is well-operated and environmentally sound,” he said in an interview with news reporters.  Montenegro acknowledged that there is a lot of misinformation surrounding the project’s activities, which will be disproved by this audit. Therefore, they hope it begins as soon as possible so that citizens can clarify their doubts.  He explained that, although the company has conducted nearly 43 external audits, the reports of which are submitted to the Ministry of the Environment to verify compliance with the required conservation parameters, the state evaluation will reinforce its results. 

The expert mentioned that the mine is implementing a rigorous environmental management plan to mitigate its impact on the environment because they are aware of their responsibility. In this regard, nearly 20,000 square meters of land and approximately 4,500 hectares of land nationwide have been rehabilitated within the site.  In addition, they constantly monitor flora and fauna inside and outside the operational area using camera traps to make the necessary relocations before carrying out any intervention.  He reiterated that both he and his colleagues are committed to safeguarding the country’s biodiversity, which is why they ensure that the company complies with the mitigation and environmental conservation measures required by the project. 

“Our role is to identify risks and ensure that environmental commitments are met, but it’s easy for us to accomplish these tasks because all our staff is focused on fulfilling them,” he said.  According to the biologist, all of the mine’s activities comply with environmental mitigation and compensation parameters. Therefore, he asked Panamanians to visit the project to verify its sustainability.  “If any person or group has questions about how the project works, we invite them to come forward, ask questions, seek evidence, and join the efforts of people like me who want to do things right,” he said.  The scientist explained that mining activity has also helped finance and implement various initiatives far from the operating area, which demonstrates the company’s commitment to the environment. He therefore hopes that the upcoming audit will clarify the questions of those who remain skeptical of its intentions.

The comprehensive audit of the mine by the Ministries of Environment and Commerce and Industry could last for months.  A thousand jobs were lost after the closure of the copper mine.