Panama-Colombia Interconnection Project Progress Delayed by Lack of Community Consent

The electrical interconnection project with Colombia has made significant progress in securing financing, but the coastal communities have not yet granted their approval for the line to pass through their area, delaying the start of the construction phase scheduled for the second half of the year. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is under evaluation at Panama's Ministry of the Environment, which will take as much time as needed to issue its statement. The government stated that during these meetings, the process of compensation for affected individuals will also be discussed. Panama's National Secretary of Energy, Rodrigo Rodríguez, mentioned that projects of this type are very complex due to their impact; however, he hopes that the conversations with the indigenous communities will yield the expected results to keep the project schedule on track. Despite this progress, he acknowledged that the electrical interconnection between Panama and Colombia is in a 'critical' phase regarding the permit from the local authorities through which the line will pass. He reiterated that the acceptance of these communities is an indispensable requirement for its development; therefore, they will continue to bet on dialogue. He explained that the project is in the stage of identifying the financing scheme required for its execution. The indigenous groups have requested from the authorities the construction of a road connecting the Pan-American Highway with Mulatupu, the relocation of the Asnati School, and the electrification of 370 homes in the communities of Nurra, Mortí, Ualá, and Sassardi-Mulatupu. The electrical connection with the South American country consists of three sections: the first, 220 kilometers long, between Panama City and Mulatupu (Guna Yala), a marine section to Necoclí (Colombia), and a land section to Montelíbano. The consultation process for the project is expected to extend until March to clarify all doubts and ensure that promises will be fulfilled to obtain the right-of-way permit. Additionally, there is 'substantial' progress in the regulation that must accompany the project, which is being handled by the National Authority of Public Services (ASEP) and its Colombian counterpart. 'If they don't want to, it will be a bit complicated, but I won't say they don't want to; we are sitting down, which didn't happen before; I am sure we are going to walk very well and we will resolve all the petitions they have,' he affirmed. In parallel, they are awaiting the evaluation of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which defines the social, environmental, technical, and economic implications of the project, by the Ministry of the Environment.