According to the country’s Secretary of Energy, “the sanction is irreversible and funds will return to Panamanians,” and it is about “a crucial step towards transparency and accountability in the energy sector.”

“The fine of 14 million dollars imposed on the Naturgy Company is definitive and cannot be appealed,” said Juan Manuel Urriola, National Secretary of Energy of Panama, who assures that “these funds will be returned to Panamanian citizens.”

Urriola highlighted the decision taken by Zelmar Rodríguez, Administrator of the Public Services Authority (ASEP), and described it “as a crucial step towards transparency and accountability in the energy sector, marking a milestone in the protection of the interests of the consumer public.”

The Secretary explained that this fine, originally issued in 2013 and later confirmed by the Court, “was discovered stored in files without the possibility of appeal by the affected company.” In his statements, he stressed “the importance of justice in resolving similar cases to avoid situations of impunity and guarantee equitable representation for all Panamanians.”

Urriola did not rule out the possible issuance of more fines and explained that the authorities are in a preparatory phase for the next Distributor Concession Tender whose contracts expire in 2028, with the purpose of encouraging the “diversified participation of companies committed to the quality of service and the necessary technical and administrative standards.”

He emphasized that improvements in the sector must be self-financed with long-term investments, detailing that distributors invoice approximately 1.5 million balboas per year (1.5 million dollars). “Even if the penalties do not immediately solve the problems, they convey a message of responsibility and can influence the renewal of contracts,” said the Secretary of Energy.

Urriola reiterated the importance of effective communication between the National Ministry of Energy and the National Authority of Public Services, as well as the need for greater transparency and clarity in the relationship with consumers, to ensure their full knowledge of their rights.

The new Government has recently suspended the Tender Act for the purchase of Energy and Power, launched during the previous Administration, concluding that “it did not meet the minimum requirements to guarantee transparency to investors, nor improvements in prices for Panamanians.”