Panama Canal seeks concessionaires for major energy pipeline and port terminal expansion

The Panama Canal Authority published the prequalification documents for the development of an energy corridor pipeline and the construction of container port terminals on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. 

The publication represents a significant step forward in the process of selecting future concessionaires, and materials are available through the Panama Canal’s online procurement system. 

Interested parties can submit the required documentation for review by a technical evaluation board.

The Panama Canal’s infrastructure is expanding

The Panama Canal Authority is developing two container port terminals, one on the Atlantic coast and one on the Pacific coast. 

The project aims to increase the country’s national transshipment capacity to between 5.0 and 6.0 million TEUs per year and strengthen its position as a globally competitive intermodal hub.

Meanwhile, the energy corridor pipeline will have an extension of approximately 47-mile pipeline with access to terminals on both coasts. The initiative is designed to transport propane, butane, and ethane, with an estimated capacity of up to 2.5 million barrels per day. 

It does not require transit through the canal’s locks and does not involve additional water consumption.

A multisectoral approach 

These strategic projects incorporate a social and environmental aspect from the outset, recognizing that logistics and infrastructure development must go along with the well-being of the communities that live in the Canal's areas of influence, both on the Atlantic and Pacific sides.

Both initiatives are part of the Panama Canal Authority Strategic Vision 2025-2035, which focuses on diversifying services, strengthening operational resilience, and reinforcing Panama’s position as a leading global logistics hub.

*All images are referential. 

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