President Laurentino Cortizo revealed that the negotiation with Minera Panama begins on September 1; the contract allows the Canadian company to carry out open-pit mineral extraction in the district of Donoso, Colon.

"The process is to reach an entirely new contract, which establishes the terms of its presence in the country and the conditions for the exploitation of the copper mine," said Cortizo.

This process was formally opened after the Government recognized that the current relationship with the company is not the most beneficial for the country, due to the royalties it receives for the exploitation of the mine.

Cortizo said that "it is a comprehensive negotiation, which includes environmental, labor, fiscal and economic aspects and social development for Panama, especially Colón, the communities of the districts of Donoso, Omar Torrijos, and their entire area. of influence”.

The president assured that in the negotiation the interests of the country will prevail, taking advantage of natural resources. "This means that the country has to receive substantial, fair income from the extraction of its natural resources and that this extraction is carried out with the best practices," he said.