The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has outlined a 10-year development plan aimed at securing long-term water availability, expanding logistics capacity, and reinforcing the canal’s strategic position in global trade.
The plan focused on two main objectives: increasing water storage to support human consumption and canal operations, and enabling growth through infrastructure development without raising water usage.
Key projects included the Río Indio Reservoir, intended to supply water to over 1 million people and improve the reliability of canal transits, and the Interoceanic Energy Corridor, comprising a 76-kilometre pipeline and two maritime terminals for transferring up to 2.5 million barrels of energy products per day between coasts.
The corridor was projected to create more than 45,000 jobs during construction and 11,000 during operations, with an estimated contribution of over B/. 64 billion ($64 billion) to the economy across its lifespan.
The ACP also advanced plans for the Corozal Port, which would be integrated into a wider logistics platform connected by road and rail.
Preparatory work for both projects included stakeholder engagement and procurement processes, with the energy corridor tender expected by mid-2026 and construction of the port set for 2028.
According to the ACP, community engagement and skills development would accompany major works, particularly around the reservoir, with emphasis on local participation and economic inclusion.
The ACP stated that all projects would follow transparent procurement procedures and international standards.
Panama recently began developing a large-scale gas pipeline as part of an interoceanic energy corridor aimed at improving national competitiveness and reinforcing its role in global trade.