TORONTO (Reuters) – Shares of Canadian miner First Quantum Minerals jumped 6% on the Toronto Stock Exchange in early trading on Monday, following news that Panama would conduct an environmental audit of the Cobre Panama mine to decide whether it can safely be reopened.
President Jose Raul Mulino officially took charge of the Panama government on Monday and made the announcement of an environmental audit in his first address as the head of the government.
“I will order a strict environmental audit of the mine, with the best international experts, so that the country knows the truth about the state of the site…,” President Mulino said in his speech on Monday. He added that Panama will choose an auditing company which will not generate any costs for the government.
“The plan to open and definitively close the mine in a safe and positive manner for our country will depend on the results…
