In Panama, it is being claimed that gold mining activity at the Cerro Quema mine will set back 18 months, due to a delay in approving the environmental study and the extension of a concession on the part of the government.

General managers of the company Minera Cerro Quema, in charge of the concession for the mine, stated that the Environmental Impact Study (EIA) was presented three years ago, and they have still not received approval from the authorities.

Laestrella.com.pa reports that “…Choy, also a legal representative of the mining company, a subsidiary of the Canadian Orla Mining Ltd, explained that they are also waiting for the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI) to issue the extension of the concession contract, in order to invest another “120 million dollars” in the civil works phase, “that will take a year and a half”, and will generate about 500 direct jobs in construction and between 150 and 200 in the operation.“

See also: “Mining in Nicaragua: Good expectations for 2018“

“… The firm dismissed 25 workers three weeks ago, leaving 105 workers in the base camp of the concession, located about 300 kilometers southwest of the Panamanian capital, located in a 900-meter high massif on the Azuero peninsula, where there is intense agricultural activity. “Our perspective is that we will have to wait until next year, because the government has not said anything negative or positive.“