The Financial Post reports in its Saturday edition that an unnamed source says First Quantum Minerals expects to continue operating its copper mine in Panama despite efforts to repeal its contract there. A Bloomberg dispatch to the Post reports that the source says even if lawmakers or the courts revoke a contract signed recently with the government, First Quantum can keep mining at the Cobre Panama site as it seeks to restart negotiations for new terms. That news came on the heels of a backtrack by Panama's congress, which late Thursday eliminated an article in a mining bill that would have voided the contract. Through recent protests and blockades, it has continued to churn out copper. First Quantum has lost half its market value as demonstrations against the new 20-year contract led to the government proposing a referendum on the matter. Congress then moved to repeal the contract, before backtracking and leaving the decision to the judiciary. The matter has also been swept up in pre-election tensions, with Panamanians set to go to the ballot May 5. The backlash underscores the challenges for the mining industry to gain acceptance at a time of heightened social and environmental scrutiny and resource nationalism.