UPDATE 1-First Quantum’s Panama mine closure to cost around $800 mln, minister says

The cost of the closure of Canadian miner First Quantum's copper mine in Panama is estimated at around $800 million, Trade and Industry Minister Jorge Rivera said on Wednesday. Panama's government ordered the shutdown in December after protests calling for more environmental protections erupted across the country and a court ruling deemed the contract to run the mine unconstitutional. It is still unclear who will pay for the mine's closure process, but the Panamanian government suggested on Tuesday that First Quantum's unit in the country set out financial guarantees to cover the cost of closing its lucrative copper mine.