Minister Molto Responds After Panel Urges Rejection of Donoso Mine Audit
PANAMA CITY, July 30, 2026 – Commerce and Industries Minister Julio Molto responded after a technical panel urged authorities not to accept the integral audit of the mine in Donoso.
Telemetro reported that the Mesa Tecnica para el Cierre de Minas of the Panamanian committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature said more than 40% of evaluated commitments lacked evidence and requested rejection of the audit.
The mine remains one of Panama’s most sensitive environmental and economic issues. Audit credibility matters because it shapes public understanding of compliance, closure obligations and the responsibilities of companies and state institutions.
For communities and environmental groups, the key concern is whether technical findings are complete, transparent and backed by evidence. For the government, the challenge is responding without appearing to weaken oversight.
The story is important because it shows that the debate is moving through technical review, not only political statements.
Why it matters
Mine-audit decisions can affect environmental accountability, public trust and future policy around large extractive projects.
What happens next
Authorities are expected to continue reviewing the audit questions and any evidence gaps raised by the technical panel.
