{"id":18354,"date":"2026-10-28T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=18354"},"modified":"2026-10-27T15:06:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T20:06:09","slug":"waste-to-energy-korean-consortium-proposes-36m-plant-at-cerro-patacon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/business-economy\/waste-to-energy-korean-consortium-proposes-36m-plant-at-cerro-patacon\/","title":{"rendered":"Waste-to-Energy? Korean Consortium Proposes $36M Plant at Cerro Patac\u00f3n"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A South Korean consortium has unveiled a $36 million proposal<\/a> to convert methane gas<\/a> from Panama’s largest landfill<\/a> into electricity, a project that could power approximately 11,000 homes annually. The Cerro Patac\u00f3n investment plan, presented during a Korean Embassy environmental seminar<\/a>, aims to capture biogas from decomposing waste at the 40-year-old site and transform it into a renewable energy source<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SLC consortium estimates the project would generate around 600 gigawatt-hours of electricity over its operational period, with an additional $14 million required for operations. If bilateral agreements and permits are secured, construction could begin in 2028 with the plant entering service by 2029.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cerro
Cerro Patac\u00f3n has operated since 1985 and currently receives more than 3,000 tons of waste daily from Panama City and surrounding areas. Cerro Patacon Landfill. By GESE Panam\u00e1.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cerro Patac\u00f3n Investment Targets Environmental Crisis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cerro Patac\u00f3n has operated since 1985 and currently receives more than 3,000 tons of waste daily from Panama City and surrounding areas. Despite manual recovery efforts for materials like plastic bottles and cans, over 95% of incoming waste ends up deposited at the site. Officials warned the landfill’s current capacity could be exhausted within five to seven years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposal includes installing a cover over the waste disposal area to facilitate gas capture while reducing water infiltration. Consortium projections indicate this intervention could decrease leachate generation, the toxic liquid that forms when water passes through waste, by more than 70%. The system would also mitigate fire risks and persistent odor problems that have plagued surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2024 landfill fire, which sent smoke across sectors of the capital, was cited during the presentation as evidence of the urgent need for intervention. That incident exposed thousands of residents to hazardous air quality and highlighted the site’s deteriorating conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Muy interesante informe sobre la propuesta de Corea del Sur para mejor\u00eda ambiental y transici\u00f3n hac\u00eda energ\u00edas limpias en el relleno sanitario de Cerro Patac\u00f3n. @AAUD_Panama @MiAmbientePma https:\/\/t.co\/JQDhUVkZw5<\/p>— Guido A. Rodriguez L. Nieto e hijo de inmigrantes. (@Guidoale1961) October 22, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>\n