First Quantum opens Panama mine for public visits in restart bid

First Quantum Minerals Ltd. is opening its Panamanian mine to daylong visits by members of the public to gain support for restarting the giant copper complex under the next government.

The Cobre Panama mine, which was ordered to close last year in the face of fierce public protests, has signed up about 1,000 people so far to tour the open pit and processing plants in a bid to convince Panamanians of the mine’s merits, chairman Robert Harding and local spokeswoman Maru Galvez said Monday in an interview.

While Harding is confident of restarting the country’s flagship mine, he said he understands there’s a battle for people’s hearts and minds in a country where mining is relatively new, the government is unpopular and misinformation is rife and effective. The firm sees the eight-hour tours — including the opportunity to speak with staff — as a way of rectifying past communications shortfalls at a time when scrutiny on environmental and social issues is growing. A virtual tour is also being prepared.

“We had a mine that worked for the people of Panama, so I’m confident that we will find a solution,” Harding said from Bloomberg’s Toronto offices.

First Quantum acknowledges it could have done a better job touting the mine’s role in generating jobs and revenue for Panama as well as its community and environmental initiatives. But the shutdown order was more a case of the mine being swept up in discontent toward the government and misinformation campaigns via social media, Galvez said.

One campaigner was Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who in November reposted a video on his Instagram account calling for the mine to be shut. DiCaprio is also welcome to visit, said Harding. “We’d love for him to come.”

(By Jacob Lorinc and James Attwood)

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