PANAMA CITY, June 30 (Reuters) - More than a quarter of

the copper concentrate stockpiled at First Quantum Minerals' ( FQVLF )

Cobre Panama mine since it was closed in late 2023 has

been shipped from the site, Panamanian officials said on Monday.

The removal of 33,000 metric tons out of a total of 120,000

tons left at the site appears to end uncertainty over the stuck

copper, and signals a possible thawing of the relationship

between the Canadian company and President Jose Raul Mulino's

government.

First Quantum declined to comment.

Panama's prior administration had ordered the closure of the

mine, which accounted for about 1% of global copper supply,

following public protests over environmental concerns.

Panama's trade and industry ministry said the removal of the

stockpiled copper was gradual, without providing a date for the

full quantity to be extracted, or further details about the

shipment.

"More than 33,000 tons have already been shipped. This

operation to remove the concentrate is gradual and depends on

technical, logistical, and weather-related factors," the

ministry said in a statement to Reuters.

It said the ministry, along with Panama's maritime, customs

and environmental authorities, were supervising the process.

First Quantum in March said it agreed to discontinue

arbitration proceedings over the mine, paving the way for talks

to resume with the government.