September 04, 2025 [Reuters]- Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino announced the start of a process to develop a new gas pipeline interoceanic energy corridor for the canal during an official visit to Japan, the Panama Canal said in a statement on Wednesday.

The pipeline will be the first major project of this infrastructure platform, aimed at strengthening the country’s competitiveness and addressing a strategic need in the global energy market, the statement added.

The Panama Canal board has authorized the selection process, with prequalification of interested parties expected to begin this year and the final concessionaire would be chosen by the fourth quarter of 2026, the waterway’s administration added.

The project is part of the revenue diversification strategy for the Panama Canal, which seeks to expand service offerings, increase cargo capacity without additional water use, and aims to position Panama as a key global trade hub.