Jose Raul Mulino said a government report shows there are no immediate environmental or safety risks from Cobre Panama.
The raw materials bill for the average EV is now down to $510 compared to a peak of more than $1,900 at the beginning of last year.
The project is one of the largest lithium mines in Africa.
As metal prices soar, mining expands into new frontiers, more communities and Indigenous peoples will be impacted as they are attracted to ASM as a vital lifeline in times of economic turmoil.
