Panama president sees no environmental threat from copper at closed First Quantum mine
Environmentalists as well as mining companies had raised concerns over risks from leaving the copper on site.
The largest union at Chile’s Escondida copper mine has voted to “indefinitely” extend a strike at the mine, which is controlled by BHP Billiton.
Members of the 2350-strong Escondida Mine Workers Union No 1 “unanimously voted” to extend the work stoppage, which began on Thursday night and was initially planned to end 24 hours later at 8pm on Friday, union leader Jose Vidal said.
