Liquid gas bound for Asia fuels boom in revenue of Panama Canal

Almost two years ago, Houston-based Cheniere Energy launched the first shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) through the expanded Panama Canal.

Now Cheniere is one of several shippers creating a boom in business for the waterway in shipments of LNG, propane and other petroleum products, fueled by demand that is nearly doubling this year from China, South Korea and other Asian countries.

So far, none of the LNG is only passing through Central America but a project by AES to use LNG for a power plant on the banks of the Canal is close to completion, and a similar scheme is due to get underway shortly in El Salvador.