The miner is said to be at the centre of a bidding war between Jiangxi, China’s largest copper miner on the one side, and a possible BHP-Newcrest alliance on the other.

BHP will help I-Pulse and its affiliate I-Rox, in which is also taking an equity position, develop technologies that can curb energy use in the mining sector.

Panama’s Chamber of Commerce expressed concern over the “erratic turn” the negotiations between the government and First Quantum Mineral have taken.

Remoteness, regulatory sclerosis still pose barriers to mine development in Canada, the federal government says.

The copper-gold mine would be one of the largest foreign investments in Pakistan and one of Barrick’s key projects for this decade.

Trade agreement gives Europeans greater access to copper, lithium and raw materials that are key for the energy transition.