{"id":15432,"date":"2026-08-10T06:22:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T11:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=15432"},"modified":"2026-08-09T20:29:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T01:29:13","slug":"panamas-new-laws-target-power-crisis-construction-revival-and-tourism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/news\/panamas-new-laws-target-power-crisis-construction-revival-and-tourism\/","title":{"rendered":"Panama&#8217;s New Laws Target Power Crisis, Construction Revival and Tourism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">President Jos\u00e9 Ra\u00fal Mulino isn&#8217;t merely listening to complaints about Panama&#8217;s erratic electricity supply from frustrated citizens. He lives them. At his own residence, unpredictable blackouts have fried refrigerators, televisions, and microwaves, he revealed this week. Now, a sweeping package of new laws is being readied to overhaul the national power grid and inject fresh momentum into construction and tourism, two pillars of the country&#8217;s services-based economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/electricity-meter-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"electricity meter\" class=\"wp-image-14882\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/electricity-meter-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/electricity-meter-1200x800-1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/electricity-meter-1200x800-1-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/electricity-meter-1200x800-1-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/electricity-meter-1200x800-1-450x300.webp 450w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/electricity-meter-1200x800-1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">electricity meter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A &#8216;True Disaster&#8217; at Home: How the President&#8217;s Appliances Became Casualties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking after a memorial mass marking 38 years since the death of three-time president Arnulfo Arias Madrid, Mulino pulled no punches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8216;The reform of the national electricity system, which is a true disaster as it stands and which we all experience,&#8217; [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">he said, foreshadowing one of the legislative initiatives his government will soon deliver to the National Assembly. The blunt description cut through official jargon, capturing a widespread frustration that has simmered as outages interrupted daily life and business operations across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Gf72KNh27pE?cc_lang_pref=en&#038;hl=en&#038;cc_load_policy=1\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moments later, the president made the issue deeply personal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8216;Don&#8217;t think that the power doesn&#8217;t go out frequently in my house.. it does. that I have a generator is another matter, but it does go out. And my refrigerators, televisions, microwaves get burned out too, just like any person in the country,&#8217; [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">he recounted. The admission shattered any illusion that the political elite is shielded from the grid&#8217;s failings. It also served as a rhetorical device to underline the urgency of the new laws his administration intends to champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New Laws Target Construction and Tourism Sectors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond the electricity reform, the legislative package will include targeted incentives for construction and tourism. Mulino confirmed that the proposals, which he described as matters of national interest, are designed to reactivate two engines that have sputtered in recent years. While he stopped short of disclosing the specific tax breaks or regulatory adjustments under consideration, the direction suggests an effort to stimulate private investment and job creation after a period of post-pandemic sluggishness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/panama-tourism-beach-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"Panama tourism beach\" class=\"wp-image-9124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/panama-tourism-beach-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/panama-tourism-beach-1200x800-1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/panama-tourism-beach-1200x800-1-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/panama-tourism-beach-1200x800-1-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/panama-tourism-beach-1200x800-1-450x300.webp 450w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/panama-tourism-beach-1200x800-1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Panama tourism beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Construction in Panama has long been a bellwether for economic health, driven by major infrastructure projects, real estate development, and public works. Yet rising costs, tighter financing, and uncertainty have cooled the sector. Similarly, tourism, which accounts for a substantial slice of employment in hotels, restaurants, and transport, has battled to regain its pre-2020 momentum. By coupling incentives with a reliable electricity supply, the administration hopes that these <a href=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/politics-government\/president-mulino-rejects-new-anti-corruption-laws-in-panama-clashes-with-attorney-general\/\" rel=\"internal\">new laws<\/a> will remove the bottlenecks that have held back growth. Analysts note that such a dual approach , fixing basic services while offering carrots to strategic industries , could generate a multiplier effect if the reforms are well crafted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Political Pilgrimage and the Ambition to Refound a Nation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/news\/panamas-mulino-lands-in-lima-for-fujimori-inauguration\/\" rel=\"internal\">Mulino<\/a> deliberately tied his announcement to the legacy of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Arnulfo_Arias\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Arnulfo_Arias\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Arnulfo Arias Madrid, a figure revered by many for his nationalist policies and his multiple stints as head of state<\/a>, each cut short by coups. The mass at which Mulino spoke was more than a ceremonial gesture; it provided a historical frame for the president&#8217;s call that Panama seize the moment to restructure its foundations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8216;I believe this is a moment that will allow us to refound a new nation,&#8217; [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">he declared, asking that citizens and lawmakers treat the forthcoming bills with the same serious effort his government is applying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/a-arias-president-of-panama-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"American flyer discussing Arnulfo Arias's inauguration as President of Panama in 1968. Por Department of State. U.S. Embassy, Panama. 4\/3\/1964 - Esta etiqueta no indica el estado de los derechos de autor del trabajo adjunto. Se requiere una etiqueta de derechos de autor normal. Para m\u00e1s informaci\u00f3n vea Commons:Sobre las licencias., Dominio p\u00fablico, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=106206339\" class=\"wp-image-15433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/a-arias-president-of-panama-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/a-arias-president-of-panama-1200x800-1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/a-arias-president-of-panama-1200x800-1-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/a-arias-president-of-panama-1200x800-1-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/a-arias-president-of-panama-1200x800-1-450x300.webp 450w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/a-arias-president-of-panama-1200x800-1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">American flyer discussing Arnulfo Arias&#8217;s inauguration as President of Panama in 1968. Por Department of State. U.S. Embassy, Panama. 4\/3\/1964 &#8211; Esta etiqueta no indica el estado de los derechos de autor del trabajo adjunto. Se requiere una etiqueta de derechos de autor normal. Para m\u00e1s informaci\u00f3n vea Commons:Sobre las licencias., Dominio p\u00fablico, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=106206339<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Such lofty rhetoric connects the tangible headaches of voltage fluctuations and sputtering economic indicators to a larger narrative of national renewal. Panama\u2019s electricity troubles are not new. The grid relies heavily on hydroelectric power, which historically provided cheap and abundant energy but has become increasingly vulnerable to drought cycles exacerbated by El Ni\u00f1o. Low reservoir levels have triggered rationing and forced the country to turn to more expensive thermal generation, straining public finances and household budgets. The new laws, if they address this structural weakness, could mark a turning point in energy security , a prerequisite for any meaningful economic refoundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Comes Next and the Road to Legislative Approval<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No timeline has been set for presenting the bills to the National Assembly, and the president offered no details on the precise mechanisms for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldbank.org\/en\/country\/panama\/overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">construction and tourism<\/a> incentives. That lack of specifics leaves industry leaders and opposition figures waiting for the fine print. Mulino&#8217;s request for thorough analysis signals an awareness that the path from announcement to enactment is rarely smooth in Panama&#8217;s coalition-driven legislature. Past reform efforts have sometimes stalled amid partisan bargaining, and any legislation affecting the powerful electricity sector is likely to face scrutiny from vested interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/national-assembly-panama-credit-parlatinoorg-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"national assembly panama Credit ParlatinoOrg\" class=\"wp-image-14860\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/national-assembly-panama-credit-parlatinoorg-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/national-assembly-panama-credit-parlatinoorg-1200x800-1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/national-assembly-panama-credit-parlatinoorg-1200x800-1-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/national-assembly-panama-credit-parlatinoorg-1200x800-1-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/national-assembly-panama-credit-parlatinoorg-1200x800-1-450x300.webp 450w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/national-assembly-panama-credit-parlatinoorg-1200x800-1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">national assembly panama Credit ParlatinoOrg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, the president&#8217;s gambit of personalizing the crisis , revealing that his own home suffers the same blackouts and appliance damage as any ordinary household , could build public support for swift action. If the new laws are robust enough to tackle the deep-rooted problems of grid underinvestment and outdated regulation, they might indeed lay the groundwork for a more reliable electricity future. Combined with industry-specific stimuli, the package holds the potential to reshape Panama\u2019s economic landscape. For now, the country watches and waits, hoping that the next power surge does not claim another television in the presidential residence , or in millions of other homes across the isthmus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>President Jos\u00e9 Ra\u00fal Mulino isn&#8217;t merely listening to complaints about Panama&#8217;s erratic electricity supply from frustrated citizens. He lives them. At his own residence, unpredictable blackouts have fried refrigerators, televisions, and microwaves, he revealed this week. Now, a sweeping package of new laws is being readied to overhaul the national power grid and inject fresh<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15431,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[28,87],"tags":[2599,6001,5997,61],"class_list":["post-15432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news","category-featured","tag-construction","tag-laws","tag-laws-electricity","tag-tourism"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15432"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15432\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15434,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15432\/revisions\/15434"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15431"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}