Protesters gathered in Limón de Chagres to oppose a proposed artificial reservoir on the río Indio, joining a demonstration in Panama City where others marched against the infrastructure project linked to the Autoridad del Canal de Panamá.
The mobilizations highlight mounting tension over the planned 4,600-hectare reservoir intended to secure water levels for the interoceanic route. According to the Autoridad del Canal de Panamá, construction is slated to begin in 2027 and run through 2031 with an estimated investment of 1,600 million dollars.
Protests and Community Opposition in Limón de Chagres and Panama City
In Limón de Chagres, rural residents met with representatives of the Episcopal Conference following a march featuring songs, banners, and Panamanian flags under a shared message of protecting the common home inspired by environmental guidance from the papacy. Twenty community representatives spoke during a Eucharistic celebration at the Cristo de Esquipulas church, warning that the reservoir would displace families, flood productive lands, and destroy local water sources and cultural ties. Participants also denounced a lack of adequate channels for affected populations to be heard by authorities, demanding proper respect for their foundational rights.
Concurrently, about 300 campesinos and activists demonstrated in the capital.
Water Security and the Impact on River Basin Residents
The waterway, which handles roughly five percent of global maritime commerce, currently relies on rainfall stored in Gatún and Alhajuela lakes. The new reservoir on the río Indio would feed into Lake Gatún via a nine-kilometer tunnel.
Affected populations have proposed utilizing Lake Bayano as an alternative to supplement the waterway instead of building the new basin.
Church Support and Timelines for Resettlement
Catholic bishops backed the residents, stating that development projects must never override basic human rights or local ways of life. The gathering concluded with a broad appeal for national solidarity to protect natural resources and local territories.
Initial reasentamientos are scheduled to begin around mid-2027, preceding the broader construction schedule that extends from 2028 to 2031.