The International Finance Corporation will be carrying out preliminary studies so that a tender can be launched for the construction of the project, which has a planned length of 330 km and an estimated value of $550 million.

Having tried unsuccessfully to tender preliminary studies and designs for the fourth transmission line, Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica said it will hire the International Finance Corporation, from the World Bank, to develop the first phase of the project.

See also “Public infrastructure projects in Central America“

Subsequently the tender will be held for the construction, valued at $550 million and with a proposal which is different to those put forward so far. Prensa.com explains that  “…The project … will different from its three predecessors located on the Pacific route.  The 330 kilometer line will start in Bocas del Toro, passing through Veraguas, crossing the north side of Cocle then continue on to the province of Colon, ending in the electrical substation in Panama III. The 4th line will have capacity to transport 1288 MW in each direction.”

“… In order to finance the construction of the 4th line, Etesa is preparing a bond issue of 400 million dollars, but the state run company will not go to the debt markets until Line 3 is finished, a work which is currently 96% complete.”