New President of Panama Has Canal Water Levels Top of Agenda

The newly elected president of Panama, Jose Raul Mulino, has prioritized the water levels of the Panama Canal as a key focus of his administration. Mulino, who won the elections last Sunday, will commence his five-year term in July.

In an interview with Reuters, Mulino expressed his intention to urge lawmakers to pass legislation that would allow the construction of large water reservoirs by the Panama Canal. This initiative aims to address the severe droughts that have significantly hindered traffic along the interoceanic waterway over the last year.

Mulino plans for this legislation, which would enable the canal authority to use the necessary land for these reservoirs, to be the first approved during his term.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is looking to increase the number of daily vessel slots to 32 next month. However, they anticipate that full operations will not resume until next year, following the worst drought in recorded history, which has severely impacted the canal's operations. 

Despite these challenges, there was a 6% increase in total transits in April compared to the previous month, signaling that the most severe period of drought-induced restrictions might be over.

Deputy administrator and chief sustainability officer at the ACP, Ilya Espino de Marotta, noted “This recent drought at the canal not only highlights the vulnerability of our water systems but also underscores the urgent need for innovative and collaborative solutions. To tackle water scarcity challenges effectively, we’ve learned that we must adopt a multifaceted approach that encompasses technology, policy reforms, and community engagement,”

She continued, “Innovative engineering solutions are pivotal in mitigating the impacts of climate change on water resources. Technological advancements, from cloud seeding to smart irrigation systems, offer promising avenues for conserving and managing water more efficiently,” before  advising the incoming Mulino administration to enact legislation that promotes water conservation and equitable distribution and prioritize investments in water infrastructure.