Cobre Panamá Mine Closure Raises Severe Environmental and Health Concerns
The closure of the Cobre Panamá mine has led to critical environmental issues, highlighted by risks of tailings dam failure and contamination impacting local communities. ELAW reports inadequate monitoring of the site, raising serious concerns over social and ecological health. The event reflects broader regulatory shortcomings in mine closures across Latin America, necessitating improved policies and practices for sustainable management.
The abrupt closure of the Cobre Panamá copper mine in 2023 has resulted in the rapid deterioration of its infrastructure within a biodiverse jungle area on Panama’s Atlantic coast. A recent report from the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) indicates that the mine’s tailings dam faces a critical risk of failure due to inadequate monitoring and internal erosion. Indigenous communities living nearby have reported increased contamination in their water sources, resulting in the loss of vital species, wetland destruction, and serious health issues among residents.
Experts have expressed concerns that current mine closure regulations across Latin America are inadequate. Effective closure plans should emphasize the management of social and environmental impacts to mitigate long-term consequences. Abandonment of inactive mines without proper care poses significant risks not only to the environment but also to human health, as evidenced by previous incidents such as the Brumadinho dam collapse in Brazil.
From 1915 to 2021, a total of 342 tailings dam failures were recorded globally; 57% of these events occurred in the Americas. With the Cobre Panamá mine shuttered for only months, researchers from ELAW analyzed monitoring reports, revealing that its tailings dam was at serious risk due to all too common erosion phenomena. As stated by Isaías Ramos from the Environmental Advocacy Center, “the filtration of heavy metals and toxic chemicals can damage the surrounding ecosystems, affecting flora, fauna, and water resources.”
Cobre Panamá, the largest copper mine in the country, covers an area larger than San Francisco and was responsible for the production of over 350,000 tons of copper annually. The mine’s closure has significantly impacted the world’s copper supply, leading to noticeable shortages. Following its last production in November 2023, the mine entered a preservation and safe management phase, yet the ELAW report shows that critical monitoring equipment has failed.
ELAW found that the inclinometers, crucial for monitoring the stability of the tailings dam, were non-functional, and the company did not adhere to national laws regarding monitoring requirements, specifically related to acid mine drainage. Such failures raise concerns not only over environmental regulation compliance but also about the health implications for local communities, which include increased contamination in agricultural lands.
The challenges of mine closure are increasingly attracting governmental attention in South America; however, Panama remains lagging in regulations for monitoring abandoned mining sites. Joana Abrego of CIAM pointed out that while mining companies must develop specific closure plans, these preparations are inadequately regulated. Previous closure plans did not adequately address unforeseen events and lacked comprehensive execution.
Both Peru and Chile are notable for having established comprehensive national mine closure regulations, requiring financial assurances for such liabilities. Unfortunately, other countries like Colombia do not impose obligations beyond three years post-closure, leaving many environmental impacts unaddressed long-term. The Prodeco mines in Colombia exemplify ongoing legal disputes due to mishandled closure processes, demonstrating the pressing need for thorough regulations to ensure responsible management and rehabilitation of mining sites.
The Cobre Panamá mine’s closure has triggered numerous environmental and health-related concerns among local communities due to the poor management of its tailings dam. Insufficient regulations and monitoring emphasize the need for comprehensive mine closure plans across Latin America. Experts call for increased governmental action to address and mitigate the ecological and social repercussions of such closures, underscoring the importance of sustainable practices within the mining industry.
Original Source: news.mongabay.com
