Canal Expansion: mega-project and environmental relief

By
mof
– August 25, 2011Posted in: news

A technician from Panama Forest Services rescues a sloth at the canal expansion project

The Canal expansion work, which started in 2007 after a great national debate and was approved in a national referendum, is an example of how a megaproject can be executed through national consensus and respecting the rights and environmental laws.

This project has a cost of 5 thousand 250 million dollars and involves the removal of 50 million cubic meters of rock, stone and earth to allow Post-Panamax ships to pass through a series of tubs that use the hydraulic resource in a more efficient way.

At the heart of the country, humans and machines work hard removing materials, rescuing animal species affected by the impact on the forests, always respecting the environmental laws and in complete coordination with the entities in charge of their compliance.

The project is not only focused on its profitability but also proposes the capitalization of environmental challenges, with a potential to generate multimillion-dollar revenue for the country.

It is a model to follow and a true example that Panama has workforce trained and aware of the importance of combining the development of great projects and respecting the environment. This project is being observed by the mining companies as model to follow, consulting, preventing and mitigating any environmental impact that can result from the extraction of metallic minerals.

According to the manager of the Environmental Sector of the expansion project, Daniel Muschett, the dredging is being done at the current waterway without interrupting the ship traffic, and the locks are being built at the same location the Americans tried to build the third set of locks between 1939 and 1942 which affected the original vegetation, but then was regenerated.

“However, despite minimal effects on the environment will be felt, the project contemplates a compensation for the damages and preserve the flora and fauna of the country” he stated.

The mitigation actions include three direct compensation elements: the payment to the National Environment Authority (ANAM) for the vegetation affected by the work, reforestation programs for one thousand hectares to compensate the affected forests, and the preservation of native species of the area.

The estimated amount to pay for this part of the work is 25 million dollars.  According to the environmental impact study of the canal expansion, about 500 hectares of forests will be affected.

The reforestation is being done in protected areas ranging from Alto Chagres, in the Canal watershed, to the Baru Volcano.  The forest compensation plan establishes that for this year, the established quota must be met, and the maintenance of the reforested areas must be maintained for a period of four additional years, in order to certify compliance.

The Canal expansion is a project that will require the movement of vast amounts of materials and will impact the environment, but the mitigation measures will help diminish the damage it can cause.

In Panama large mining projects aware of the concern for the environment, apply mitigation measures to reduce the damages to the environment; among them is Petaquilla Gold S.A. one, driven by programs to recover the possible impacts, such as reforestation, as well as offering support to the surrounding communities where the mineral is being extracted.

About mof