PANAMA CITY, March 27 (Reuters) -

First Quantum Minerals ( FQVLF ) said on Thursday it would suspend

public tours of its shuttered copper mine in Panama after the

country's president said the Canadian miner should not give the

impression that the site is operational.

In a regular press conference earlier on Thursday, President

Jose Raul Mulino said there had been no discussion with the

company or further progress on resolving the issue of the mine.

The government ordered its closure in late 2023 following public

protests over environmental concerns.

"I don't want them to give the impression that the mine is

operating," he said.

First Quantum's local unit, Cobre Panama, responded several

hours later in a social media post.

"We have heard the statements from the National Government

and have decided to suspend the public visit program to the

mine," the post said.

When asked at the press conference if he would sign a

new contract with First Quantum in Panama, Mulino said that

possibility could be looked at down the line.

"Everything will be studied, but right now we don't have

anyone to study it with," he said. "We hope to cross that bridge

when we come to it."

He noted that First Quantum must suspend its arbitration

over the mine before the two sides can negotiate next steps,

including the export of 120,000 metric tons of copper

concentrate left at the site.