Search results for: 'panama'

Top 10 biggest construction projects completed in 2016

1.    Barzan Gas Development – Qatar

The Pan-American Highway: from Alaska to Argentina

“We did it. We – the Vogel family from Boise, Idaho – did it. We did the impossible, and I couldn’t be happier that we did,” wrote Nancy Sathre-Vogel, in her family blog, when she and her family reached Ushuaia, in Argentina.Eight years ago, John and Nancy Vogel left their teaching jobs, took their twin boys out of school, bought two single bikes and a tandem and embarked on a journey to cycle the Pan-American Highway.The Pan-American Highway is a network of roads, extending from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina. According to the Guinness World Records, the 48,000km highway, which runs through the North and South American continents, is the world’s longest ‘motorable road’.The highway comprises official and unofficial sections. The official section runs from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico to Buenos Aires, Argentina, while the unofficial sections can be found to both the north and south of the official route.The route — including the official and unofficial sections — spreads across 14 countries: the USA, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Argentina.However, if you are thinking in cycling or driving all the way down until Ushuaia without stopping — except to rest, sleep or eat — take that out of your mind.The route is interrupted by a 160km-wide break, named the Darién Gap, between Central and South America.The Pan-American Highway is for many the ultimate road trip and here — as part of the WCN’s Roads Week — we provide you with everything you need to know, so you can start, if you fancy the challenge, your ‘little’ adventure.

POSCO E&C begins work on 380MW combined cycle power plant in Panama

POSCO E&C has started construction on a 380MW combined cycle power (CCPP) plant in Colon, Panama.The project will include the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) CCPP plant, along with an 180,000cb m LNG storage tank to supply fuel at Colon — located near the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal — entailing an investment of $650M.The facility, set to be the largest of its kind in Panama, will generate enough electricity to power about 300,000 homes.Upon completion, the power plant will provide a stable supply of electricity to the industrial complex near Panama Canal and the Colon area.POSCO E&C CEO Han Chan-kun said: "The project is the result of efforts to establish trust with the ordering parties in Latin America over the past decade."It will be a great chance for us to showcase the high-quality construction technology of E&C across the world."The power plant will be completed in July 2018 and the LNG tank in May 2019.

Panama signs $2.6bn financing agreement with Japan for metro project

Panama has signed a $2.6bn agreement with Japan to finance the construction of Line 3 of Panama's Metro.Touted be the largest project in Panama since the expansion of the Panama Canal, Line 3 of the Panama Metro will be 26.75km long with 14 passenger stations.The first phase of Line 3 will meet the demand of 20,000 daily commuters in rush hour in 2020, while the second phase of Line 3 will benefit 31,862 commuters in 2050. Panama president Juan Carlos Varela said in the joint press conference with the prime minister of Japan Shinzo Abe: "The funding granted today by Japan is a recognition of Panama's credibility, stability, and strength. Today's announcement proves that our economy is sustained by solid foundations." The contractor for this project will be chosen through an international public bidding. Construction work will commence in 2017 and the metro line is set to be operational by the end of 2021.

Panama Canal expansion to open in June

The multi-billion-dollar expansion of the Panama Canal is set to open on 26 June 2016.The project includes expansion of the 50-mile long waterway to manage increased levels of traffic and bigger cargo ships. Work involves construction of two new sets of locks, one each on the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean sides, excavation for new entrance channels to the new locks, widening and deepening the existing channels, as well as raising the water level of Gatun Lake.The project, which began in 2007, was initially scheduled to be completed in October 2014. It has however been delayed owing to construction, labour, and legal issues, as well as discovery of fissures in one of the widened locks.Work on the expansion is currently 97% complete.Panama Canal Authority CEO Jorge Quijano said: "The dream of expansion will become a reality when we inaugurate the biggest infrastructure project in the history of the Canal and the country of Panama."

POSCO E&C wins $650m power plant and LNG terminal project in Panama

South Korean firm POSCO E&C has secured a $650m EPC turn-key contract from Gas Natural Atlantico and Costa Norte LNG Terminal for the Colon combined cycle power plant and LNG terminal project in Panama.