The Panama Canal will invest $ 2 billion to achieve water sustainability in the operations of the interoceanic highway, and guarantee the supply of drinking water to half of the Panamanian population for the next 50 years.

The administration of the interoceanic highway presented yesterday the specifications for the prequalification of five companies, which must verify their competence and economic solidity, and later present a proposal at the best value that allows them to compete in the design and construction of the new optimized system of water resource management: This is the largest investment by the canal administration since the expansion of the road in 2016, an investment of $ 5.5 billion. “We are investing in an innovative system to address the quantity, quality and control of water,” said Ricaurte Vásquez, administrator of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

In recent years, rainfall levels have registered historically low figures due to climatic variations. “Ensuring operational levels of water, in a sustainable way, is essential for the long-term viability of the Panama Canal,” said Vásquez, highlighting the importance of the project to maintain the competitiveness of the interoceanic highway in the future. The work includes a portfolio of projects, including a macro one that is estimated at $ 1.8 billion, and other minor ones, explained José Reyes, vice president of ACP Water Projects. The investment will guarantee the supply of 1.4 billion cubic meters of water starting in 2025.

“We are investing in an innovative system to attend to the quantity, quality and control of water”

RICAURTE VÁSQUEZ,

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE PANAMA CANAL AUTHORITY

“This represents the deficit of the basin caused by the variability of the rainfall patterns. It is additional water that needs to be incorporated into the water basin, ”explained José Reyes. Of the five proposals presented by the companies, the most advantageous for the State, the best, would be chosen for it to develop macro and micro projects. The contracting will be carried out through the rules of public contracting for a “better value” in two phases, one of which began yesterday with the prequalification of companies. Ismael Gerli