The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has officially launched the concessionaire selection process for its new natural gas pipeline project, beginning with an initial market engagement event held in Panama City. The session brought together more than 45 representatives from global energy companies, marking an important step in the development of the Canal’s broader interoceanic energy corridor.
According to the ACP, the pipeline is envisioned as a cornerstone of this new infrastructure platform and is intended to strengthen Panama’s competitiveness while responding to strategic demand in global energy markets. The project will support the transportation of propane, butane, and ethane between the Gulf of Mexico and Northeast Asia, while also helping to free up Canal capacity without requiring additional water use. The Canal Authority said the initiative is designed to improve overall performance by reducing vessel wait times and reinforcing the long-term reliability of the route.
The proposed infrastructure includes a 76-kilometer pipeline with a transfer capacity of up to 2.5 million barrels per day, supported by maritime terminals on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides. The ACP emphasized that the project will be developed in line with international standards for safety, environmental protection, and operational excellence.
During this initial phase, the Canal is seeking feedback from potential concessionaires regarding the proposed project structure, the roles of participating parties, and the concession model itself. The ACP also confirmed that individual meetings will be held with interested companies as part of the next stage of the process. Participants in the first market engagement event included major international players such as ExxonMobil, Shell, Energy Transfer, Itochu, Mitsubishi, Phillips 66, Promigas, Puma Energy, Targa Resources, Ultranav, and Vitol, among others.
As outlined by the ACP, the next phases will include a prequalification stage, followed by a phase of interaction and dialogue with prequalified companies, and finally the selection of the concessionaire. The prequalification process is expected to be completed this year, while the final concessionaire selection is scheduled to conclude in the fourth quarter of 2026. The Authority stated that the entire process will be conducted in a transparent and competitive manner, with participation from leading global companies.
