Massive protests erupted in Panama against a mine owned by a Canadian company, and orders have now been issued to close it.

The massive copper mine, known as Cobre Panama, has been the target of widespread demonstrations since October, when the Panamanian government signed a contract allowing it to operate for at least another 20 years.

Environmental biologist Guido Berdugo told W5 at one of the protests: "The Canadian government promotes itself as truly aware of the environment; we cannot believe that a Canadian company would do this to our national resources."

The open-pit mine, covering an area of 13,000 hectares and owned by a subsidiary of the Canadian company First Quantum Minerals, is bordered by a forest about 120 kilometers west of the capital, Panama City, on the Atlantic coast of the country.

Referring to its alleged impact on the environment and water supplies, a broad coalition of Panamanians – including students, environmental activists, labor groups, and indigenous communities – have protested for weeks, with the police resorting to tear gas and rubber bullets, and it was halted as the country reached a state of chaos.

A photographer, who lost one of his eyes when police fired on protesters, told W5: "People really feel betrayed by all the institutions in Panama." "It’s not just about mining; there are many things linked to corruption. People are fed up with it."

Protesters also blocked the mine's road access to roads and ports, disrupting its operations.

A fisherman told W5 from the maritime blockade: "We knew from the beginning that this was their weak point," "We knew from day one that by protesting here, we would achieve a victory and succeed."

In November, Panama’s Supreme Court ruled that the concession granted to the company by the government was unconstitutional. The agreement would have guaranteed Panama at least $375 million annually, more than 10 times the previous deal and the largest private investment in the country’s history.

After defending the deal amid widespread opposition, the Panamanian government later announced it would close the mine, although the process could take years.

A protesting student told W5 from one of the barricaded universities: "The government only wants to get rich and forget about us." "We get nothing."

The multi-billion-dollar company plans to challenge the decision and seeks arbitration to reinstate its contract or obtain compensation. First Quantum says it provides thousands of jobs and contributes up to five percent of Panama’s GDP.

The company said in a December press release: "First Quantum has invested over $10 billion to build a world-class mine, port, and power plant in Panama." "The company will pursue all appropriate legal avenues to protect its investments and rights."