Panama mulls water projects to deal with canal crisis

Panama is considering the construction of water collectors to ease shortages that affect the canal.

Ships have been unable to cross for weeks due to an ongoing water crisis. 

The commercial attaché at the embassy in Mexico, Ayxa Chuljak, said the crisis will pass but the problem persist.

“We are analyzing how to ease these situations because this [crisis] will end in two or three months, but climate change is always here. We are carrying out studies. We must try to recollect as much freshwater as possible,” she told BNamericas on the sidelines of an event in Mexico City. 

“The problem is that more and more freight is coming, and this means more water waste. If it is not a Post-Panamax ship – that can sail through the new part, the expansion, that recollects 80% of the water that is used – it must go through the part built in 1914 that causes a large amount of water waste. That is concerning for us,” she added. 

As long as a solution is not on the horizon, restrictions will be tightened. 

“We must have large water reservoirs and find a way to recollect water, maybe even at a household level. There are several projects … but we are currently in a state of emergency that is improving, though. However, there will be more restrictions for some ships that produce most of the water waste. There is no problem with Post-Panamax ships but with small vessels,” said Chuljak.

Since the canal does not operate with sea water, freshwater shortages limit the amount of vessels that can cross.

“It is not about a single issue. The canal operates with freshwater. Our large rain forest that provided a large amount of water is being destroyed by migration. It is located on the border with Colombia and it is being cut down to build clandestine roads for people to cross over,” said Chuljak.

Increasing congestion has prompted shipping companies to reduce the weight of vessels.

Panamanian authorities reduced the number of ships allowed to cross from 38 to 32 per day. At the end of last week, 134 vessels were waiting in line, according to NTN24 news outlet.