Panama puts itself forward
The Central American nation wants to make the most of its geographical position to supply the rest of the continent with energy
Panama's government wants to use its pivotal location and liberal fiscal policies to transform the country into a regional power and energy hub, putting itself ahead of competitors in the region. Last year's $5.4bn extension of the Panama Canal, which has created the option for ships carrying cargoes of liquefied natural gas to travel between the US and Asia, is a catalyst for the development of a gas hub. The US-based AES Corporation—an electric power distribution company—will open the 1.5m-tonnes-a-year Costa Norte LNG terminal and power project in Colon, at the entrance of the Panama Canal, next year. A gas-fired power plant is expected to come online in the third quarter of 2018, followe
Also in this section
19 March 2026
The regional crisis highlights the undervalued role of fixed pipelines in the age of tanker flexibility
18 March 2026
Rising LNG exports and AI-driven power demand have raised concerns that US gas prices could climb sharply, but analysts say abundant shale supply and continued productivity gains should keep Henry Hub within a range that preserves the competitiveness of US LNG
18 March 2026
Risks of shortages in oil products may cause world leaders to panic and make mistakes instead of letting the market do what it does best
17 March 2026
The crisis in the Middle East has put LNG’s ability to offer security and flexibility under uncomfortable scrutiny






