Panama launches maintenance work at contested mine
PANAMA CITY: Panama's government said Friday it would start maintenance work at a major mine forced to shut by protests, but insisted the project was not tantamount to the pit reopening.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Central America's biggest copper mine, the Canadian-owned Cobre Panama pit, closed in 2023 following weeks of crippling protests over its environmental impact.
Maintenance will be carried out by a subsidiary of Canada's First Quantum Minerals "to prevent environmental damage" from materials stored at the mine, Trade and Industry Minister Julio Molto told a news conference.
"This decision (...) does not imply the reactivation of the mine," Molto said.
First Quantum Minerals said it would finance the work by exporting 121,000 tonnes of copper concentrate stored at the site since it closed down.
Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino said last month that his government was working toward reopening the mine, without clarifying how he plans to tackle legal hurdles.
The country's Supreme Court ruled in November 2023 that a contract allowing First Quantum Minerals to continue operating the site was unconstitutional.
Environmentalist Raisa Banfield criticized Friday's announcement as the Canadian giant "can't manage the mine."
She called for an external audit to "establish the definitive closure plan."
Cobre Panama, which began operations in 2019, had produced about 300,000 tonnes of copper concentrate a year, representing 75 percent of the country's exports and about five percent of its national economic output.
It employed around 37,000 workers directly and indirectly.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
5 minutes ago
- NDTV
3 Air India Officials Removed, Aviation Body Threatens To Withdraw Licence
New Delhi: Civil aviation regulator DGCA has ordered the immediate removal of three senior Air India officials, including a divisional vice president, from all responsibilities related to flight crew scheduling and rostering. The directive is among the sternest interventions in recent months involving a full-service scheduled airline. The DGCA has also asked the Tata Group-owned carrier to initiate internal disciplinary proceedings against the three unnamed officials without further delay. Failure to do so would result in severe action, including the possibility of the airline losing its operating permission. The DGCA's action stems from its audit of Air India's Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC), which oversees crew deployment across the airline's domestic and international network. According to the show cause notice issued by the regulator, two flights operated by Air India - AI133 from Bengaluru to London Heathrow on May 16 and May 17 - exceeded the maximum flight duty time limitation of 10 hours. The operation of these flights violated Para 6.1.3 of the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR), Section 7, Series J, Part III, Issue III, dated 24 April 2019, according to the show cause notice. The flights in question were not emergency or exceptional operations. The DGCA contends they were regular long-haul services. The DGCA issued a show cause notice to Air India's Accountable Manager, typically a high-ranking official. The notice demands an explanation within seven days from the date of receipt, asking why enforcement action should not be initiated under relevant provisions. "Failure to submit your reply within the stipulated period shall result in the matter being decided ex parte based on the evidence available on record," the regulator warned. Responding to the directive, Air India acknowledged the seriousness of the observations made by the DGCA. "We acknowledge the regulator's directive and have implemented the order. In the interim, the company's Chief Operations Officer will provide direct oversight to the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC). Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices," Air India said in a statement. The IOCC is a key component in any airline's structure, responsible for real-time crew management, flight dispatch, weather monitoring, and route planning. Missteps or regulatory non-compliance at this level can directly affect passenger safety and crew welfare. Understanding The Rules 1. As per DGCA norms, pilots operating in a cockpit must meet specific qualification criteria to be paired with each other. These criteria include factors such as the number of flying hours each pilot has logged, so that the combined total of experience in the cockpit meets a prescribed minimum threshold. 2. Both pilots must also be qualified for specific operational requirements, for example, low-visibility operations, 'Atlantic qualifications', or clearances for operating in high-altitude or critical airfields such as Leh or Ladakh. 3. Valid Licenses: It is mandatory for the airline to ensure that both pilots at the controls meet all licensing requirements. Their licenses must be current, and all mandated refresher courses and proficiency checks must be up to date. 4. Systemic Failures: There are indications of repeated violations of Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. These include requirements to provide pilots with adequate rest before a flight and compliance with similar guidelines. Questions Being Raised 1. Why are these violations not flagged by the software systems? 2. Why are such issues not preempted or prevented before pilots operate flights? 3. This points to the possibility of manual overrides of automated systems. Is the rostering process being manipulated?
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
DGCA crackdown: Why Air India was told to remove its 3 officials
Jun 21, 2025 02:11 PM IST The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the aviation safety regulator, has ordered Air India to remove its three officials, including a divisional vice president, from all roles and responsibilities related to crew scheduling and rostering. Air India planes are parked at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. (PTI file) The DGCA, in its order on June 20, also asked the Tata Group-owned airline to initiate internal disciplinary proceedings against these officials without delay. The three officials include a divisional vice president of the airline, as per the DGCA order. Air India, in a statement, said it has acknowledged the regulator's directive and implemented the order. "In the interim, the company's Chief Operations Officer will provide direct oversight to the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC). Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices," the airline said in its statement on Saturday. The latest direction from DGCA has come at a time when the airline has been under strict scrutiny in the aftermath of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash last week. Why DGCA asked Air India to fire 3 officials In its order, the DGCA said 'repeated and serious violations' voluntarily disclosed by Air India concerning flight crew being scheduled and operated despite lapses in licensing, rest, and recency requirements. "These violations were discovered during the post-transition review from ARMS to the CAE Flight and Crew Management System," it said. What is ARMS?: ARMS or Air Route Management System is the software platform used by the airline for various operational and management tasks, including crew rostering and flight planning, among others. ARMS or Air Route Management System is the software platform used by the airline for various operational and management tasks, including crew rostering and flight planning, among others. The voluntary disclosures, 'while noted, point to systemic failures in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring, and internal accountability,' the DGCA order said. The order also flagged that 'particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible for these operational lapses'. The DGCA also noted that these officials have been involved in 'serious and repeated lapses' including 'unauthorised and non-compliant crew pairings, violation of mandatory licensing and recency norms and systemic failures in scheduling protocol and oversight'. Who are Air India officials? The aviation regulator said it has identified three officials as directly accountable: Choorah Singh, divisional vice president; Pinky Mittal, chief manager - in directorate of operations, crew scheduling; and Payal Arora, crew scheduling - planning. Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad A London-bound Air India flight, AI-171 carrying 242 passengers and crew members crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12. All but one on board the plane died along with nearly 29 on the ground when the aircraft smashed into a medical complex shortly after take-off.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Aviation Body Orders Removal Of 3 Air India Officials Over Crew Rostering
Mumbai: Aviation safety watchdog DGCA has ordered Tata Group-owned Air India to remove its three officials, including a divisional vice president, from all roles and responsibilities related to crew scheduling and rostering over serious lapses. In its order of June 20, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also directed the airline to initiate proceedings against these three officials without delay. Air India, in a statemen,t said it has acknowledged the regulator's directive and implemented the order. "In the interim, the company's Chief Operations Officer will provide direct oversight to the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC). Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices," the airline said in its statement on Saturday. The DGCA order said: "Repeated and serious violations voluntarily disclosed by Air India concerning flight crew being scheduled and operated despite lapses in licensing, rest, and recency requirements. "These violations were discovered during the post-transition review from ARMS to the CAE Flight and Crew Management System." ARMS (Air Route Management System) is the software platform used by the airline for various operational and management tasks, including crew rostering and flight planning, among others. The voluntary disclosures, "while noted, point to systemic failures in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring, and internal accountability," the DGCA order said and flagged that "particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible for these operational lapses". The regulator noted that these officials have been involved in "serious and repeated lapses including "unauthorised and non-compliant crew pairings, violation of mandatory licensing and recency norms and systemic failures in scheduling protocol and oversight". The DGCA also warned Air India that future violations in crew scheduling will invite "strict action", including licence suspension and operational restrictions. The latest direction from DGCA has come at a time when the airline has been under strict scrutiny in the aftermath of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash last week. A London-bound Air India flight, AI-171 carrying 242 passengers and crew members crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12. All but one on board the plane died along with nearly 29 on the ground when the aircraft smashed into a medical complex shortly after take-off.
