Antofagasta agreed to treatment and refining charges of $80 a tonne and 8 cents per pound with Chinese smelter Jinchuan Group.

The union for Minera Panama said it reached agreements with the company to ensure worker pay as protests kept workers from reaching their jobs.

Public arguments for both cases are set to conclude on Nov. 23 and issuing a ruling is a priority for the court.

"We have to wait and see whether it's a watershed moment or not," Richard Adkerson said.

To improve the power supply, CMOC has been looking to tap hydropower projects and other new energy sources.

Protests have raged for weeks against First Quantum's contract for a $10 billion copper mine.