LIMA, May 22 (Reuters) - Canadian miner First Quantum

Minerals ( FQVLF ), which lost the right to operate its copper mine in

Panama last year following protests by environmental groups and

a court ruling deeming its contract void, is seeking to speed

its copper projects in Peru, a company executive said on

Wednesday.

One of the three largest global copper producers, First

Quantum in Peru controls the La Granja project, worth at

least $2.5 billion, and the $1.86 billion Haquira project.

"These are projects that need to be accelerated," said the

mining company's project development director, Steven Lewis,

during a speech at a mining forum in Lima.

La Granja, where fellow miner Rio Tinto is

a minority partner, is a project with a 40-year lifespan and

forecasted output of 500,000 metric tons per year, according to

government data. First Quantum's Lewis said it has one of the

largest undeveloped copper deposits in the world.

Meanwhile, the Haquira project, fully owned by First Quantum

in the Apurimac region, is in the "pre-feasibility" stage. It

could reach an annual output of 200,000 tons once at full

capacity.

"We are very busy building more positive relationships with

the communities (in Haquira) to allow it to come to light," said

Lewis, who did not offer a time frame for the construction of

both mines in the South American country.

The company shifted focus toward Peru after Panama's

government decided last year to annul First Quantum's contract

to operate the Cobre Panama mine there, which accounted for

about 40% of First Quantum's revenue last year.

"We are now working with Panama's government to ensure the

environmental stability (of the project), the integrity of the

copper assets, and, most importantly, the safety of our

employees," Lewis said.

Panama's outgoing government of President Laurentino Cortizo

ordered the closure of the mine, which is currently in

maintenance mode while the formal closure process starts.

The incoming administration of President-elect Jose Raul

Mulino, who is set to take office on July 1, will be tasked with

setting guidelines for the process.