Loans by the European Investment Bank
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The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term financing institution of the European Union, whose shareholders are its Member States. It finances investments that promote the objectives of European Union policies. EIB Global is the EIB Group's specialised arm dedicated to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance, and a key partner of Global Gateway. It aims to support approximately 115 billion USD (100 billion EUR) of investments by the end of 2027.
The EIB provides financial support to projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, facilitating long-term investments on favorable terms and providing the necessary technical support to ensure that these projects achieve positive social, economic, and environmental outcomes. Since the EIB began operations in Latin America in 1993 and the Caribbean in 1978, it has provided total financing of over 20 billion USD (17 billion EUR), supporting approximately 350 projects in 30 countries across the region.
EIB Global is a key partner in implementing the European Union’s Global Gateway Investment Agenda, which aims to support robust projects that contribute to improving global and regional connectivity in the digitalisation, climate, transport, health, energy, and education sectors. Investing in connectivity is one of EIB Global’s core activities, drawing on the Bank’s 65 years of experience in this field.
| Project | Sector | Promoter – Financial Intermediary | Objetive | Signature | Loan (final amount) | Activities | Results | Webpage |
| Power distribution in Panama | Energy | COMPANIA ESPANOLA DE SEGUROS DE CREDITO A LA EXPORTACION SA COMPANIA D,EMPRESA DE DISTRIBUCION ELECTRICA CHIRIQUI SA,EMPRESA DE DISTRIBUCION ELECTRICA METRO-OESTE SA | Strengthen Panama's electricity distribution system while ultimately helping to meet the country's increasing electricity demand | 05.11.2025 | 261,051,166.02 EUR (Approximate total cost 581 million EUR) | Finance the extension and modernisation of electricity distribution networks, in particular operation and capacity to enable the connection of new system users (some of which likely low-income households) and reduce technical and commercial losses | Investments in renewal, refurbishment, and development of the high, medium and low voltage distribution assets, protection and tele-control systems, as well as installation of modern LED public lighting systems and meters: pprox. 4,100 km of new and refurbished HV, MV and LV lines (overhead lines and underground cables), over 1,500 MVA of added transformation capacity, as well as the installation of approx. 200,500 new meters (out of which 30,000 smart meters). | https://www.eib.org/en/projects/pipelines/all/20230453 |
| PANAMA CITY AND BAY AREA SANITATION PROGRAMME: | Water and sewerage | Ministry of Health | Panama City (main component): Continue to contribute to the Panama Government's efforts to increase the country's pollution abatement and environmental sustainability | 28.01.2016 | 45,858,937.91 EUR (Approximate total cost 157 million EUR) | Finance the expansion of the Juan Díaz water treatment plant included in the Panamanian Government’s 2015-2019 five-year strategic plan, which identifies water as a priority sector | Improve the environmental conditions of Panama City and Bay by doubling the current treatment capacity of 190 000 cubic meters per day of the Juan Díaz Wastewater Treatment Plant. Treat the wastewater produced by approximately 400 000 people, which is currently discharged into rivers and into Panama Bay without any treatment. It will also indirectly have a positive economic impact on the metropolitan area of Panama. | https://www.eib.org/en/projects/pipelines/all/20150056 |
| Burunga (second component): Contribute to the Panama Government's efforts to improve pollution abatement and the country's environmental sustainability | 15.11.2017 | 42,229,729.73 EUR (Approximate total cost 284 million EUR) | Finance the first component of the government programme extending sanitation services beyond the Panama Metropolitan area to the neighbouring province of West Panama on the western side of the Canal, i.e. design and construction of collectors and sewerage networks, including domestic connections, in Burunga (Arraiján District) | Benefit an estimated population of 62 000 people and will avoid the discharge of 28 500 m3 per day of untreated wastewater into the environment. It will also indirectly have a positive economic impact due to its proximity to the metropolitan area of Panama. | https://www.eib.org/en/projects/pipelines/all/20150672 | |||
| Chorrera (follow-up): Contribute to the government's efforts to reduce pollution and improve environmental sustainability | 27.06.2018 | 43,044,077.13 EUR (Approximate total cost 497 million EUR) | Support the construction of a wastewater collection system - 400 km sewerage networks, pumping stations and household connections - the construction of a conveyance system and a wastewater treatment plant to provide full sanitation services to the sector of La Chorrera and other surrounding areas | Benefit an estimated population of about 225,000 at completion. The treatment facility will be designed to avoid the discharge of over 115,000 cubic meters per day of untreated wastewater into the environment. It will also indirectly have a positive economic impact due to its proximity to the metropolitan area of Panama. | https://www.eib.org/en/projects/pipelines/all/20150865 | |||
| Dos Mares Hydroelectric Plant | Energy | ALTERNEGY SA, BONTEX SA | Contribute to economic development of Panamá through improved electricity supply from a renewable source | 27.10.2009 | 140,939,149.00 EUR (Approximate total cost 340 million EUR) | Finance the construction and operation of a cascade of three run-of-river power plants with a total installed capacity of 115 MW, located in the province of Chiriqui in Panamá | With a total installed capacity of 117.5 MW, the three plants will be integrated into the river’s existing hydroelectric system consisting, helping to meet the rapidly growing electricity demand in Panama in an environmentally sustainable way using available water resources. | https://www.eib.org/en/projects/pipelines/all/20080581 |
| Panama Canal Expansion | Transport | Autoridad del Canal de Panama | Increase the Canal’s capacity and improve its competitiveness | 05.01.2009 | 359,272,831.80 EUR (Approximate total cost 3,900 million EUR) | Support the expansion of the Panama Canal through the addition of a third set of locks | Manage the forecast growth in cargo volumes and enable the passage of larger container vessels, generating economies of scale and increasing the productivity of the Panama Canal, Panama's primary economic resource | https://www.eib.org/en/projects/pipelines/all/20060467 |
| Panama City and Bay Sanitation Project | Water and sewerage | Ministry of Health | Improve health and environment through wastewater treatment | 21.12.2007 | 27,140,725.00 EUR (Approximate total cost 210 million EUR) | Finance the construction of wastewater collectors Las Lajas and East, a wastewater interceptor Balboa and a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) | By increasing the proportion of wastewater treated from less than 5% to close to 50%, the project will improve the quality of life of local residents, in particular in poor areas that so far have not beig served with sanitation services, reduce sanitary and health hazard, and develop tourism and fishing activities in the region. | https://www.eib.org/en/projects/pipelines/all/20070250 |
| Second Panama Canal Bridge | Transport | Ministry of Public Works | Open up a new transport corridor providing the required extra capacity to cross the Canal and reduce transit traffic in Panama City, thus improving travel time for commuters and freight traffic | 29.03.2004 | 40,812,995.00 EUR (Approximate total cost 201 million EUR) | Construction of a second bridge (1.1 km) over the Panama Canal and connecting motorway infrastructure in Panama City | The second bridge will help to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety in Panama City, taking off traffic from the existing bridge Puente de las Americas, which has reached its capacity limits. Benefits will accrue from time and vehicle operating cost savings. The project will also help to reduce emissions and noise levels. | https://www.eib.org/en/projects/pipelines/all/20030510 |
| Cable and Wireless Panama | Telecom | Cable & Wireless Panama (CWP) S.A. | Modernise and extend the fixed and cellular telephony as well as the data transmission services | 08.02.2001; 08.06.1998 |
54,229,935.00 EUR; 50,000,000.00 EUR |
Deepen the service quality and improving the overall efficiency | https://www.eib.org/en/projects/loans/all/20000087 https://www.eib.org/en/projects/loans/all/19972167 |
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
OVERVIEW
Panama City, Burunga, Chorrera, Panama Canal
Ongoing
Multi-sector
Energy, transport, water and telecom
European Investment Bank (EIB)
