Panama Canal Receives Statement of Qualifications From Several Consortia
Vying to Design and Build New Locks

• Four World-Class Consortia Formed to Build Historic New Lock
• 30 Companies from 13 Countries Submit Qualifications

PANAMA CITY, Panama, November 16, 2007 – In what will be the largest contract under the Panama Canal’s Expansion Program – to design and build the new locks – the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) received statements of qualifications yesterday from the four consortia vying for the job.

On August 27, the ACP released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the construction of the new set of locks to be built under the Canal’s Expansion Program. The four consortia that responded, which are comprised of 30 companies from 13 countries, yesterday submitted a Statement of Qualification (SOQ). In the next step, the ACP will evaluate the SOQs from the four prospective firms based on pass/fail criteria and capabilities. The firms that meet the basic requirements will pass to the second and final round. In this latter and final round, the ACP will release a request for proposal (RFP), and the consortia that have made it to this round will submit proposals. The ACP expects to release the RFP in the coming weeks.

“Four superb, world-class consortia submitted SOQs yesterday. The locks project is the most important contract under the Expansion Program, and we foresee strong competition for the project. The companies that have submitted qualifications are true pros with a wealth of experience, which means that the prospect of completing the Canal’s expansion on time and with the expected quality, is very good,” said ACP Executive Vice President of Engineering and Program Management Jorge L. Quijano. “The reputation of these global contractors and their solid ability to compete bodes very well for the project. Now, we will work diligently in reviewing the submissions and list those that have met our basic requirements and move to release the RFP.”

The charts below highlight the consortia that submitted the SOQ:

COMPANY

Consorcio C.A.N.A.L.

Consortia Members:

• ACS Servicios, Comunicaciones y Energía, S.L. – Leader, Gate Manufacturers (Spain)
• Acciona Infraestructuras, S.A. – (Spain)
• Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas, S.A. – (Spain)
• Hochtief Construction AG – (Germany)
• Constructoras ICA S.A. de C.V. – (Mexico)

Designers (subcontractors):

• Sener Ingeniería y Sistemas, S.A. – (Spain)
• Haskoning Nederland BV – (Holland)
• Hochtief Consult – (Germany)
• Mott Macdonald Limited – (United Kingdom)

Gate Manufacturers:

• ACS Servicios, Comunicaciones y Energía, S.L. - (Spain)

Consorcio Atlántico-Pacífico de Panamá

Consortia Members:

• Bouygues Travaux Publics – Leader (France)
• Bilfinger Berger – (Germany)
• VINCI Construction Grands Projets – (France)
• Construcoes e Comercio Camargo Correa S.A. – (Brazil)
• Construtora Andrade Gutierrez S.A. – (Brazil)
• Construtora Queiroz Galvao S.A. – (Brazil)
• ALSTOM Hydro Energia Brasil – (France)
• BARDELLA Industrias Mecánicas – (Brazil)

Designers (subcontractor):

• AECOM – Leader (United States)

Gate Manufacturers:

• ALSTOM Hydro Energia Brasil – (France)

Bechtel, Taisei, Mitsubishi Corporation

Consortia Members:

• Bechtel Internacional, Inc. – Leader (United States)
• Taisei Corporation – (Japan)
• Mitsubishi Corporation – (Japan)

Designers:

• Bechtel Internacional, Inc. – Leader (United States)

Gate Manufacturers (subcontractor):

• Wuchang Shipyard – (China)

Grupo Unidos por el Canal

Consortia Members:

• Sacyr Vallehermoso S.A. – Leader (Spain)
• Impregilo S.p.A. – (Italy)
• Jan de Nul n.v. – (Belgium)
• Constructora Urbana, S.A. – (Panama)

Designers (subcontractors):

• Montgomery Watson Harza (MWH) – Leader (United States)
• IV-Groep – (Holland)
• Tetra Tech – (United States)

Gate Manufacturers (subcontractor):

• Heerema Fabrication Group – (Holland)

Prior to submitting the qualifications, a total of 144 representatives from North, Central, and South American, Asian and European firms visited the areas where the new locks will be built and attended an informational meeting regarding the contract.

The Expansion Program will build a new lane of traffic along the Panama Canal through the construction of a new set of locks, which will double capacity and allow more traffic and longer, wider ships.

About the Panama Canal Authority (ACP)
The ACP is the autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal. The operation of the ACP is based on its organic law and the regulations approved by its Board of Directors. For more information, please refer to the ACP's Web site: www.pancanal.com. For Panama Canal video, please visit www.thenewsmarket.com/panamacanal.