Cobre Panamá Mine Closure Sparks Environmental and Health Concerns

After the Cobre Panamá mine’s 2023 closure, its infrastructure eroded, creating environmental hazards. Local Indigenous groups report worsening water contamination, ecologically critical species disappearing, and health issues. An ELAW study warns of imminent dam failure. The mining industry must adopt better regulatory frameworks for mine closure to protect communities and biodiversity.

The closure of the Cobre Panamá copper mine in 2023 has left its infrastructure deteriorating in a fragile biosphere on Panama’s Atlantic coast. A report from Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) indicates serious risks of tailings dam failure due to inadequate monitoring and internal erosion. Local Indigenous communities are experiencing increased water contamination, resulting in the loss of vital species, wetland destruction, and health complications.

The mining sector’s approach to mine closure requires significant improvement to mitigate adverse environmental and social impacts. Regulations must be strengthened to ensure thorough monitoring of inactive mines and proper rehabilitation strategies. The Cobre Panamá case exemplifies the urgent need for comprehensive policy reform that balances economic benefits with environmental integrity and community health.

Original Source: news.mongabay.com