• CANAL EXPANSION REMAINS ON TRACK 

PANAMA CITY, Panama, September 30, 2008 – Moving forward with the next phase of its Expansion Program, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) released a request for proposals (RFP) today soliciting bids for the third of four dry excavation projects.

This dry excavation project will help to create expansion’s critical access channel that will link the new Pacific locks with the Canal’s existing Gaillard Cut (the narrowest stretch of the Panama Canal). Details of the RFP are available on the ACP’s Online Bidding System: http://www.pancanal.com/eng/procsales/buy.html.

The scope of work will include the excavation, removal and disposal of eight million cubic meters of material. Moreover, the RFP calls for demolishing the Cocoli Bridge and clearing 190 hectares of unexploded ordnances (UXOs), remnants from former United States training facilities in the Canal Zone.

“The release of the third dry excavation RFP is yet another example that the Expansion Program is on track and proceeding with great progress,” said Executive Vice President of Engineering and Program Management Jorge L. Quijano.  “We look forward to selecting the best firm for the job, as we complete this crucial component of expansion.”

Similar to the first and second dry excavation projects, this contract will be awarded to the firm or consortia with the lowest priced proposal that meets all of the RFP’s requirements. Proposals are due November 18, 2008.

Expansion will build a new lane of traffic along the Panama Canal through the construction of a new set of locks that will double capacity and allow more traffic and longer, wider ships.

About the Panama Canal Authority (ACP)
The ACP is the autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal. The operation of the ACP is based on its organic law and the regulations approved by its Board of Directors. For more information, please refer to the ACP’s Web site: http://www.pancanal.com/.