The company SGS Panama Control Services will be in charge of auditing the processed and semi-processed material in the mine, specifically the 132 thousand tons of copper concentrate that are currently stored in Minera Panamá facilities, located in the district of Donoso, province of Colón.
The Minister of Commerce and Industries, Julio Moltó, announced the endorsement of the contract during his appearance before the Budget Commission of the National Assembly on Wednesday, October 23, but little has been known about the agreement and its scope.
The contract, which was endorsed on October 15, has a total value of 73 thousand 718 dollars with 72 cents and a period of 45 days for compliance with it, from the issuance of the order to proceed.
The agreement stipulates that SGS Panama Control Services must perform physical and chemical expertise in the best possible way, taking into account the limitations inherent to the process, the quality and quantity of the material to be evaluated. It is understood that he will use laboratories in Chile and Peru.
Among the activities to be carried out, the verification of the representative sampling of the copper concentrate stands out, which is distributed in piles that are approximately 14 meters high by 180 meters long.
Sampling will be one of the most crucial stages of the process, as it will ensure that reliable data on the content of copper concentrate piles are obtained.
In addition, the contract states that the company must review and approve the Safe Labor Analysis (AST) that is presented to carry out the sampling activities, ensuring that all operations are carried out in a safe and controlled environment.
Moltó also mentioned that, in addition to the physical and chemical esse, the Government is working on planning a comprehensive environmental audit. This audit will evaluate the environmental impact that the mining operation has had and establish an action plan to mitigate any identified damage.
The operation of Minera Panamá was suspended after the unconstitutionality ruling issued by the Supreme Court of Justice in November 2023, which annulled the original agreement between the State and the company Minera Panamá, a subsidiary of the multinational First Quantum Minerals.
Moltó reiterated, as President Mulino mentioned earlier, that the National Government will take action on the mine in 2025.