Five potential bidders for Panama power line

Two companies and three consortiums have been prequalified to bid for Panama's fourth electrical transmission line, the state power utility Etesa announced.

The five potential bidders are Interconexión Eléctrica of Colombia, China Electric, a Spanish consortium, another of Spanish and Canadian companies, and a third of firms from India, France and Brazil.

The project will be the biggest of its type in Central America. Etesa sources reckon that the cost will be about $500 million.