---
title: "Panama’s commerce minister says Cobre Panama has not reopened"
date: 2026-04-13
author: ""
url: https://panamadaily.news/cobre-panama-not-reopened/
categories:
  - "Environment"
  - "News"
  - "Politics"
tags:
  - "Cobre Panamá"
  - "environmental risk"
  - "Julio Moltó"
  - "Minera Panamá"
  - "National Assembly"
  - "Panama mining"
---

# Panama’s commerce minister says Cobre Panama has not reopened

## What Happened

Panama’s minister of commerce and industries, Julio Moltó, said the Cobre Panamá mining project in Donoso has not been reopened. Speaking before the National Assembly’s Commission on Commerce and Economic Affairs, he said no authorization has been issued to reopen the mine.

The minister’s remarks came after lawmakers questioned a recent resolution that authorized the removal, processing and exploitation of material already extracted from the site. Moltó said that activity is limited to dealing with material exposed at the mine and does not amount to a full restart of operations.

## Why the Material Is Being Processed

Moltó said the extracted rock now exposed at the site carries a progressive risk of contaminating water and soil. He described that risk as significant and said it has already been verified, which is why the government decided to allow processing of the material.

He also said there are about 38 million tons of extracted rock exposed at the mine. According to the minister, the danger of acid drainage is real and increases over time if the material is not treated and processed.

The minister argued that leaving the material in place or covering it would not solve the problem. He said experts recommended processing the material to reduce environmental risks.

## Political and Legal Context

Cobre Panamá stopped operating after the Supreme Court of Justice declared the contract between the company Minera Panamá and the State unconstitutional in late November 2023. Moltó stressed that what was ruled unconstitutional was the contract, not the company itself.

That position drew criticism from independent lawmakers during the hearing. Deputy Jorge González said he found that interpretation inconsistent, arguing that the company was responsible for carrying out the contract. Independent lawmaker Alexandra Brenes also questioned why the government chose to use the same company for the work instead of putting the operation out to tender.

Moltó did not give a direct answer on why no bidding process was held. He said the company is obligated to mitigate any existing environmental risk in the area and that the same company is also handling maintenance of the structures at the site.

## What This Means

The government’s position draws a line between reopening the mine and managing material already left exposed at the site. Moltó said allowing processing is a targeted measure meant to prevent further environmental damage, not a return to normal mining operations.

He also said any profits from the operation will be invested in public works, as ordered by President José Raúl Mulino. Those funds will enter the state treasury and be directed to concrete projects for the public, according to the minister.

The debate over Cobre Panamá remains one of the most sensitive economic and environmental issues in the country, balancing concerns over pollution, legal authority and the future of one of Panama’s most important mining projects.