(Reuters) -Canada's First Quantum said on Tuesday the final hearing for the Cobre Panama mine under the International Chamber of Commerce proceedings has been moved to February 2026 from September of the current year.

The mine, one of the world's top sources of copper, was shut down in November 2023, hours after Panama's Supreme Court declared its contract unconstitutional. The decision to close down the mine was also triggered by environmental protests against the operation.

The Canadian miner also said the Government of Panama had applied to the arbitration panel, requesting an extension of its submission dates after the replacement of an external legal counsel and on the basis that the new government required time to assess the situation concerning the mine.

Last year, Reuters reported that the Canadian miner opened a voluntary retirement scheme to workers at the mine, as the company awaited for a government decision on restarting the operation.

(Reporting by Tanay Dhumal in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)