The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) plans to award concessions in June 2027 to develop two new port terminals and an interoceanic gas pipeline (La Prensa, 12/03/2026). Both processes are under the prequalification phase that started at the end of January 2026 and is expected to end in May 2026, after which a period of discussion and dialogue with the prequalified companies is expected to adjust the bidding documents and concession contracts. The port terminals should come into operation between 2029-2030 period, while the gas pipeline is scheduled to start operations in 2031.
The terminals, one on the Pacific coast (Corozal) and the other on the Atlantic coast (Telfers Island), are planned for container transshipment. With an investment of about USD2.6bn, the terminals are expected to answer to an expanding global demand, especially in the trade of gas from the Gulf of Mexico to Northeast Asia.
The 76 km interoceanic gas pipeline is planned for a capacity to transport up to 2.5 mb/d of energy products such as propane, butane and ethane. The USD4-8bn project requires marine terminals on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, storage tanks for about 12 mbl and three independent systems to handle the different products. It is expected to free up capacity in the Canal to other types of maritime cargo.