As Panama embarks on the most ambitious mining project in its history, environmentalists and farmers are up in arms, claiming the project will foul the rivers and cause soil contamination in one of the world’s great biological hotspots. At issue are the Minera Petaquilla copper and Molejón gold mines, expected to begin operations in March west of Panama City in Coclé and Colón provinces. The copper mine, at an estimated cost of US$2 billion, is slated to rank among the largest in the world. Vancouver-based Petaquilla Copper, which owns 52% of Minera Petaquilla, and its Canadian partner Inmet Mining, with 48%, say the two open-pit mines will yield some 120,000 ounces of gold and more than 400 million pounds of copper annually... [Log in to read more]