• AES CHANGUINOLA
  • THE COMPANY
  • OUR COMMITMENT TO PANAMA
  • VALUES
• THE PROJECT
  • THE PROJECT: CHANGUINOLA I
  • LOCATION
• NEWS
• ENVIRONMENTALLY VIABLE
  • CLEAN ENERGY
  • COMPLIANCE WITH LEGAL PROVISIONS
  • PRESERVATION OF PROTECTED AREAS
  • LEAVES SPACES FOR DIALOGUE
• SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE
  • PARTICIPATIVE RESETTLEMENT
  • SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
• ECONOMICALLY BENEFICIAL
  • ECONOMICALLY BENEFICIAL PROJECT
• CONTACT

With the construction of the Changuinola I project, economic resources have been injected into the Bocas del Toro Province economy, causing a positive impact on residents in various areas:

1. Creation of jobs: more than 800 Panamanians have benefited from an employment opportunity.  Of this total, 80% of the employees hired are natives of the province hosting the project.

2. Creation of new services: the new workers hired for the project – and who have embraced the province as their new home for the duration of the construction of the hydro power plant – require services that meet their daily needs.  That is why in recent months formal and informal work activities have grown through the provision of services going from grocery stores, laundry, restaurants and/or eateries, house rental, medical services, transportation, entertainment, etc.  The most important thing is that the aforementioned services are offered by the Bocas del Toro community and as of today, the amount covered by these services exceed five million dollars.

3. Suppliers who have benefited:  nearly 195 small- and mid-sized businesses which provide supplies and materials for the construction have strongly benefited in terms of commercial sales, because the company has spent over two million dollars acquiring products.  An important piece of information is that 99% of these suppliers are established in the Province of Bocas del Toro.

4. Strengthening the work of local institutions: with a donation of over 440 thousand dollars delivered to the Municipality of Changuinola during the year 2008 (for tax payments for operations) and to the Ministry of Economy and Finance (for the commercial license obtained by AES Changuinola) the response capacity of local institutions to meet the social needs of the province has significantly increased.  

Through activities related either directly or indirectly to the Changuinola I project, residents of Bocas del Toro have found a source of income that enables them to improve their quality of life.  However, this reciprocal relationship where all parties are winners is just beginning.  It is expected that in the short term, with the educational workshops and programs in place, the company may train a larger number of local people so they can provide for themselves and get the knowledge that will help them successfully gain access to the job market.  The fact is that with the purpose of assisting our neighboring communities, the company has set for itself the goal of investing in the main resource the province has to offer: its manpower.