First Quantum Minerals says the first shipment of copper concentrate from its Cobre Panama mine, in Panama, has left port, marking a significant milestone of the ongoing ramp-up of the operation.

Cobre Panama is the company’s newest operation located in the district of Donoso, Colon province, which commenced production earlier in the year.

The Missy Enterprise (a Panama flagged vessel), departed the Punta Rincon port at Cobre Panama on June 19 with a total load of 31,377 t (wet) of copper concentrate as per the Captain’s draft survey. The next vessel, the Clarke Quay, has already docked at the Cobre Panama port and will be loading approximately 44,000 t (wet) of copper concentrate over the next few days. Ongoing vessels are expected every two-to-three weeks, FQM said.

Cobre Panama remains on track to produce between 140,000-175,000 t of copper in 2019, with more than 80% of production expected in the second half of the year, ramping up to over 300,000 t of annual copper production over the next few years, consistent with company guidance.