Mining in Panama? The Country Already Answered
This is no longer a technical debate or an economic spreadsheet exercise. In Panama, mining stopped being an abstract policy discussion a long time ago. The country answered – and it did so loudly.
The Protests Were Not Normal Protests
The demonstrations against the mine were not small, isolated, or ideological. They were massive, broad, and deeply emotional. Students, workers, professionals, Indigenous communities, and entire families took to the streets. People who normally never protest. It was likely one of the largest social mobilizations Panama has ever seen. And the message was simple: we do not want the mine.
This Was Never About Not Understanding the Money
Panamanians are not ignorant of economics. People understand jobs, revenue, and global demand for copper. What they reject is the cost. Water, land, sovereignty, and trust. Many feel the contract was imposed, poorly negotiated, and disconnected from the country’s real interests. The Supreme Court ruling only confirmed what many already believed – that something was fundamentally broken.
What People Are Actually Saying
On the street, the conversation is not about audits or roadmaps. It is about fear. About rivers and water sources. About setting dangerous precedents. About a State that appeared willing to give up too much for too little. Above all, it is about exhaustion – exhaustion with decisions made without genuine public consent.
The Real Question Is Not “How”, It Is “If”
That is why current efforts to “rethink” mining feel disconnected from reality. For a large portion of the population, the debate is not how to mine responsibly. It is whether Panama should mine at all. And that question has already been answered socially, politically, and emotionally.
Penonomé Feels the Economic Shock
Unofficial reports and on-the-ground accounts suggest that the economic impact is already being felt far beyond the mine itself. In Penonomé, one of Panama’s fastest-growing regional cities, the local labor market has taken a noticeable hit. Tens of thousands of people who were directly and indirectly connected to the mining operation – contractors, transport workers, service providers, suppliers, and small businesses – have seen their income disrupted or disappear altogether. As those jobs and cash flows slowed, the broader local economy slowed with them. Businesses report reduced activity, fewer customers, and a more cautious consumer base. While these effects are not yet fully reflected in official statistics, the change is evident to residents and business owners, highlighting the real and immediate economic consequences of the mine’s shutdown.
Panama now finds itself at a crossroads with no easy answers. The protests made it clear that social consent matters as much as economic logic, and that development without trust is no longer acceptable. At the same time, the economic aftershocks show that abrupt decisions carry real human costs as well. The challenge ahead is not to pretend one side of this reality does not exist, but to acknowledge both. Whatever path Panama chooses next, it will need to be grounded in transparency, legitimacy, and a level of national consensus that was clearly missing before.
