April 23 (Reuters) - Canadian miner First Quantum

Minerals ( FQVLF ) said on Tuesday that it has cut its debt by

$1.14 billion in the first quarter.

The company in February had announced a series of capital

restructuring measures that would strengthen its balance sheet

and cut debt, a move that will help the Canadian miner deliver

on its "operational objectives."

The company's total debt as of March 31 stands at $5.99

billion, down from its previous debt of $7.38 billion.

The copper miner reported a net loss attributable to

shareholders of the company at $159 million for the quarter

ended March. 31, as the company continues to be impacted by

Cobre Panama mine closure. It had posted a profit of $75 million

in the year-ago quarter.

The Cobre Panama project, one of the world's largest

open-pit copper mines, was forced to shut down after Panama's

top court ruled that its contract was unconstitutional.