Water supply project Espino de Marotta’s top priority taking Panama Canal helm

Ilya Espino de Marotta, a 64-year-old marine engineer and Texas A&M graduate will serve a seven-year term as Panama Canal Administrator, from 7 September 2026 until 2033, succeeding Ricaurte Vásquez, who took office in September 2019.

Espino de Marotta was appointed Deputy Administrator in 2019 and subsequently also assumed responsibility as Chief Sustainability Officer.

Ahead of taking office, she sat down with Seatrade Maritime News to discuss the most pressing projects on her agenda and the priorities that will shape the Canal’s next chapter.

Well-known across the maritime and infrastructure sectors for her distinctive pink hard hat, Espino de Marotta took over leadership of the Panama Canal expansion programme and the Third Set of Locks when its previous director, Jorge Quijano, became Panama Canal Administrator in 2012. In doing so, she made history as the first woman to lead a project of such magnitude at the Canal.

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Since then, she has spoken around the world about the Canal expansion, water challenges and the future of one of the world’s most important trade routes. Now, as she assumes Canal’s top position, her attention is firmly focused on execution.

“My priority is the $1.6 billion Río Indio project — our signature project. My focus is on how we can expedite its completion, working closely with the communities while executing it according to the established design criteria.

“Río Indio is essential to maintaining reliability for our customers while providing water for the five districts with the largest population — more than two million people — and the highest concentration of economic activity,” she says.

The project was approved by the Panama Canal Board of Directors in January 2025.

“We recognise the urgency of moving the project forward. Since 2025, we have worked intensively with the communities of Río Indio, explaining the project and developing a compensation and resettlement programme through dialogue with residents.

“Our objective is to ensure that affected families have better conditions and opportunities in the neighbouring areas where they will relocate. We are currently working on the conceptual design and tender process for the main dam and its three smaller auxiliary dams. We anticipate beginning the four-year construction phase in January 2028, with completion expected around 2032.”

But Río Indio is only one part of an ambitious investment agenda. International attention is also focused on the development of two port terminals being promoted by the Panama Canal Authority.

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“For both the Telfers and Corozal terminals, we are already in the pre-qualification and evaluation stages as part of our strategy to strengthen Panama’s role as a global logistics and maritime hub.

“Container terminals are among the most important components of the Canal’s supporting infrastructure, second only to the locks and navigation channels. Expanding port capacity is essential to maintaining the competitiveness of the Panama Canal route and meeting the evolving demands of global trade.

“For this reason, the Panama Canal is promoting the development of these two port terminals, which will strengthen connectivity and expand logistics services on both coasts.”

Another major initiative on the Canal’s agenda is the proposed gas pipeline, which is also at the pre-qualification stage following the receipt of proposals on 23 July.

“There are several options to consider, and we must determine the best business model — one that creates value for both the Panama Canal Authority and the future concessionaire,” Espino de Marotta explains.

The proposed 76-kilometre energy corridor, together with its maritime terminals, could allow up to 2.5 million barrels of energy products to be transported per day between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts without passing through the locks. The infrastructure is being considered for the transport of products such as liquefied petroleum gas, ethane, butane and propane.

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“Construction could take approximately two years. We are currently looking towards an international tender next year, potentially in the second or third quarter. Before that, however, we need to determine the optimal configuration — including whether the project should involve one or more pipelines — based on market demand.”

For Espino de Marotta, however, these individual projects form part of a broader objective: ensuring that the Panama Canal remains reliable, competitive and relevant as global trade continues to evolve.

“The Canal has always had to adapt to change. Today, our responsibility is not only to operate the waterway efficiently, but to prepare it for the future. That means securing the water we need, strengthening the competitiveness of the Panama route and developing the infrastructure and services that our customers and global trade will require in the years ahead.”

“We have important challenges before us, but also extraordinary opportunities. My focus will be on execution — working with our people, our communities and our customers to ensure that the Panama Canal continues to serve Panama and world trade with the reliability and excellence that have always defined us.”