Donoso Mine Audit Nears End, Final Report Due in May

Panama's Ministry of Environment is nearing the conclusion of its comprehensive audit of the controversial Donoso copper mine. Minister Juan Carlos Navarro announced that the sixth partial report is expected imminently, with the definitive final report slated for release in May. This audit is crucial for determining the future of the mine, which has been a source of environmental concern and public debate for years. Navarro assured the public that all audit reports are made public immediately upon delivery, underscoring the ministry's commitment to transparency.

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only the final report remains, which should be ready in May.

Contrary to speculation, Navarro clarified that no active mining operations are currently underway at the Donoso site. Instead, the focus is on the responsible export of existing copper concentrate and the safe removal of remaining ammonium nitrate, an explosive that requires careful disposal due to its environmental impact. The minister explained that a pile of rock, a byproduct of past operations, must still be processed to mitigate its potential to cause acidity in surface and groundwater. This meticulous process is being undertaken while awaiting the audit's findings and a final decision on the mine's fate.

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Now we are not doing mining. We are exporting the copper concentrate and finishing exporting the ammonium nitrate that was the explosive there that had to be eliminated.

Navarro, who has a well-documented history of opposing the mine, acknowledged the complex reality now facing Panama. "People like me, who opposed this mine all our lives, it was the correct decision, Panama was not prepared," he stated. However, he stressed the importance of confronting the present situation rationally. "Now we have to face reality; we don't like it, we never agreed, we should never have allowed this, so now, in a rational way, seek the best possible consensus, get advice from experts so that there is an orderly closure," he concluded. This pragmatic approach, while acknowledging past reservations, prioritizes expert guidance and consensus-building to ensure an environmentally sound and orderly conclusion to the mine's operations, a stark contrast to the initial enthusiasm with which the project was once pursued.

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It causes acidity in surface water, as well as in aquifers and groundwater, therefore it must be processed, all this while waiting for the audit to conclude and a final decision to be made about what we want to do with this mine.