Moderators Moderator_03 Posted June 10 Moderators Share Posted June 10 Quote Panama Canal Seeks to Build New Reservoir Posted 09/06/2024 The Panama Canal, through which about 5% of global trade transits ($270 billion dollars worth of cargo annually), seeks to make its comprehensive system of reservations for ships that want to cross it "more permanent" and is exploring building a new reservoir to increase its capacity. Due to the drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon, the Central American channel had to impose traffic restrictions from 2023, including a reduction in the draft allowed for ships and a reduction in the maximum number of authorized ships to cross it. "In our quest to achieve lasting operational improvements, our goal is to make this reservation system more permanent, even as traffic volumes begin to normalize, to further increase the reliability of the Canal," a representative said. Previously, spaces for boats only had to be reserved in advance for 70% of transits. The representative stressed that climate variability poses a long-term risk to the operations of the sea route, as does the growth of the Panamanian population and the expansion of maritime trade, which is expected to generate greater demand for water. Faced with this dilemma, they are looking for alternatives. "A promising solution we are exploring is the construction of a new reservoir, which would provide capacity for 11 additional transits," he explained. At the end of May, the administration of the transoceanic passage announced that it was increasing the maximum draft to 45 feet (about 13.71 meters) authorized for vessels in the Neopanamax locks of the channel. https://newsroompanama.com/news/panama-canal-seeks-to-build-new-reservoir Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 10 Author Moderators Share Posted July 10 Quote New Water Reservoir Construction for the Panama Canal - 36 Ships Per Day Posted 09/07/2024 The Panama Canal expects to complete a billion-dollar construction of a new water reservoir within six years that will help ensure the passage of 36 ships a day, the administrator of the global waterway said on Monday. The Indio River reservoir project would become part of the network of existing artificial lakes that allow for safe passage through the canal and provide water for human consumption. "We are looking at six years," canal administrator Ricaurte Vasquez said. Vasquez said the project "would provide a little more certainty to maintain 36 transits per day, a higher level of reliability for the route." Last month, the Panama Canal said after recent rains boosted water levels, it would increase the total number of available slots in both Neopanamax and Panamax locks to 35 slots after Aug. 5. Increased rainfall in recent months has allowed the canal, the world's second-largest, to replenish its watershed, leading to an increase in transits that had been severely restricted last year amid a drought. Ricuarte estimated the project would cost around $1.2 billion, plus an additional $400 million in investments in neighboring communities. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/new-water-reservoir-construction-for-the-panama-canal-36-ships-per-day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted August 9 Author Moderators Share Posted August 9 Quote Panama Canal Begins Census of Communities on the Indio River Posted 08/08/2024 As of 2019, the total population in the Indio River basin area was estimated at 2,264 people, of which 2,000 lived in the area that could be impacted by a future reservoir. This is about 500 families. Amílcar González, a supervisor specializing in control and monitoring of Panama Canal projects, announced that, in order to know exactly how many people live in that region, they have started a new census last week to update all the information. "In this area there are not only houses; there are also churches, schools and other facilities. The number one priority for the Canal is to serve the community. That is why the census began last week," he said. He explained that they are looking to identify the number of homes, the number of families, the economic activity they are engaged in, in addition to the dynamics of the community in general, as well as the businesses and establishments that comprise it. "We are doing a census house by house, community by community, to be able to have information on how many people require care and thus develop the resettlement plan. What we want is for them not to be affected and to be able to provide them not only with what they have today, but something better," he added. He reported that for this census a direct contact number has been activated so that the community in the area can also communicate with the Panama Canal Authority: 6671-8653, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, or by email to consultasprogramahidrico@pancanal.com “We need the community to understand the importance of this project,” said González at the XIII Symposium on Energy and Water Industries of the Panamanian Industries Union. He said that they have four offices to serve the communities in the area and that a fifth office will open next week. Following this census, they will draw up a resettlement action plan, and next year they will begin developing formulas to implement compensation measures for the communities that will be affected. He stressed that the solution of the reservoir on the Indio River is the most viable and will represent water benefits for the country, since this infrastructure is intended to provide water to the population and reduce the pressure on the Canal from the water treatment plants. The project will have an estimated cost of 1.6 billion dollars, of which 1.2 billion dollars correspond to the design and construction, and about 400 million dollars to the social cost to serve the communities. The work will involve building an underground water transfer tunnel, which will be 8.7 kilometers long. This work is expected to take four years. "It will be a type of concrete dam, which will allow, to a certain extent, to begin filling it before the four years of construction are completed," he said. The schedule presented by the Canal at the Industrial Symposium on Energy and Water provides for the bidding process to take place between the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027, with the work to be completed in 2031. The water supply from this reservoir will be equivalent to 11 daily transits of ships in the canal. https://newsroompanama.com/news/panama-canal-begins-census-of-communities-on-the-indio-river Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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