{"id":18391,"date":"2026-10-30T07:08:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T12:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=18391"},"modified":"2026-10-28T14:21:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T19:21:07","slug":"guna-congress-just-unblocked-a-20-year-energy-deadlock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/politics-government\/guna-congress-just-unblocked-a-20-year-energy-deadlock\/","title":{"rendered":"Guna Congress Just Unblocked a 20 Year Energy Deadlock"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Guna General Congress has formally approved a consultation framework for the Colombia Panama interconnection, ending nearly two decades of stalled negotiations over the <a href=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/living\/scheduled-power-cut-7-hours-of-maintenance-in-panama\/\" rel=\"internal\">cross-border electricity<\/a> project. The decision, confirmed by Panama&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.energia.gob.pa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">National Energy Secretariat<\/a>, authorizes an <a href=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/environment-wildlife\/indigenous-organizations-meet-in-panama-to-discuss-growing-judicial-harassment-across-latin-america\/\" rel=\"internal\">Indigenous-led commission<\/a> to conduct the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Free,_prior_and_informed_consent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">prior, free, and informed consultation<\/a> process under rules defined by the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Guna_people\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Guna people<\/a> themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The approval came through Resolution No. 2, adopted by consensus during an ordinary session held October 21 to 26 in the community of Dadnaggwedubbir. The resolution establishes the participation mechanism according to the comarca&#8217;s own timelines and autonomy, officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"es\" dir=\"ltr\">El Congreso General Guna aprob\u00f3 la consulta con sus comunidades sobre el proyecto de Interconexi\u00f3n El\u00e9ctrica Colombia &#8211; Panam\u00e1.\n\nLa Resoluci\u00f3n No. 2, adoptada por consenso en la sesi\u00f3n ordinaria celebrada del 21 al 26 de octubre en la comunidad de Dadnaggwedubbir, faculta a la comisi\u00f3n designada por el Congreso para iniciar y ejecutar el proceso seg\u00fan las fases, metodolog\u00edas y procedimientos que el propio pueblo Guna defini\u00f3 conforme a su normativa.\n\n&quot;Esta hoja de ruta nace de las propias normas del pueblo Guna y responde a su forma de tomar decisiones. A la Secretar\u00eda le corresponde acompa\u00f1ar el proceso con informaci\u00f3n clara, con respeto a sus tiempos y a su autonom\u00eda&quot;, afirm\u00f3 el Secretario Nacional de Energ\u00eda, Rodrigo Rodr\u00edguez.\n\nLa interconexi\u00f3n fue suspendida en 2012. En 2015 el Congreso General neg\u00f3 la ruta de la l\u00ednea y, aunque en diciembre de 2018 las autoridades tradicionales autorizaron estudios, el entendimiento no prosper\u00f3.\n\nEn marzo de 2023, mediante la Resoluci\u00f3n No. 1, el Congreso rechaz\u00f3 el Estudio de Impacto Ambiental y el proyecto. En julio de 2025, la Junta Ejecutiva se apart\u00f3 p\u00fablicamente de los acercamientos del Gobierno.\n\nEn marzo de 2026 el Congreso, reunido en asamblea extraordinaria, derog\u00f3 la Resoluci\u00f3n No. 1 de 2023 con la que hab\u00eda rechazado el proyecto, y en junio cre\u00f3 una comisi\u00f3n propia encargada de elaborar la hoja de ruta de la consulta.\n\nLa Interconexi\u00f3n El\u00e9ctrica Colombia-Panam\u00e1 unir\u00e1 por primera vez los sistemas el\u00e9ctricos de Centroam\u00e9rica y Suram\u00e9rica mediante una l\u00ednea de alta tensi\u00f3n de cerca de 500 kil\u00f3metros, con un tramo submarino por el Caribe y una capacidad inicial de 400 megavatios.\n\nEl proyecto forma parte del Corredor Ambiental Sostenible, que integra infraestructura vial, electrificaci\u00f3n rural e interconexi\u00f3n.<\/p>&mdash; Telemetro Reporta (@TReporta) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TReporta\/status\/2115488379949183484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 28, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Colombia Panama Interconnection Consultation Framework Established<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resolution carries the signatures of Sagladummad Adriano P\u00e9rez, Lorenzo Gonz\u00e1lez, and Celio De Le\u00f3n, along with Siggwi Kisabel N\u00fa\u00f1ez. Their endorsement formalizes a self-determined process that breaks from previous attempts to impose external consultation models on the Indigenous territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Guna leadership will now oversee how information about the electrical interconnection project reaches communities, how feedback is collected, and how decisions are documented. This marks a significant shift from earlier phases of the project, when consultation disputes repeatedly halted progress on the transmission line intended to link the two countries&#8217; power grids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/gemini-generated-image-75tdgp75tdgp75td-1200x800-1.webp\" alt=\"Indigenous leader protesting and confronting the police. By La Naci\u00f3n.\" class=\"wp-image-18364\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/gemini-generated-image-75tdgp75tdgp75td-1200x800-1.webp 1200w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/gemini-generated-image-75tdgp75tdgp75td-1200x800-1-150x100.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Guna leadership will now oversee how information about the electrical interconnection project reaches communities, how feedback is collected, and how decisions are documented. By La Naci\u00f3n.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Two Decades of Disagreement Give Way to Indigenous-Led Process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For roughly 20 years, the interconnection initiative faced resistance rooted in concerns over land rights, environmental impacts, and procedural legitimacy. Previous consultation efforts were criticized for failing to respect Guna governance structures. The new resolution directly addresses those objections by placing the commission under Indigenous authority rather than state-led oversight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The National Energy Secretariat&#8217;s confirmation signals federal recognition of the Guna Congress&#8217;s jurisdiction over the consultation. Energy officials have not released a specific timeline for completion of the process, but the resolution itself now serves as the binding roadmap for moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/large-guna-women-sewing-molas-e6bf5c6c-1630-491f-9144-10c12068b787-1200x800-1.webp\" alt=\"The Guna Congress's decision removes a major procedural obstacle that had long delayed the project's advancement.\" class=\"wp-image-18392\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/large-guna-women-sewing-molas-e6bf5c6c-1630-491f-9144-10c12068b787-1200x800-1.webp 1200w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/large-guna-women-sewing-molas-e6bf5c6c-1630-491f-9144-10c12068b787-1200x800-1-150x100.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Guna Congress&#8217;s decision removes a major procedural obstacle that had long delayed the project&#8217;s advancement.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Next Steps for the Cross-Border Transmission Project<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the consultation framework in place, the commission will begin organizing community-level meetings across the comarca. The electrical interconnection, once operational, would allow energy exchange between Colombia and Panama, potentially stabilizing supply during seasonal fluctuations and supporting regional grid integration efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Guna Congress&#8217;s decision removes a major procedural obstacle that had long delayed the project&#8217;s advancement. Whether the consultation ultimately yields community consent remains an open question, but the process now operates under terms the Indigenous leadership itself has defined and approved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DfDEliBHVl1\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DfDEliBHVl1\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">Ver esta publicaci\u00f3n en Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DfDEliBHVl1\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Una publicaci\u00f3n compartida por La Estrella de Panam\u00e1 (@laestrellaonline)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Guna General Congress has formally approved a consultation framework for the Colombia Panama interconnection, ending nearly two decades of stalled negotiations over the cross-border electricity project. The decision, confirmed by Panama&#8217;s National Energy Secretariat, authorizes an Indigenous-led commission to conduct the prior, free, and informed consultation process under rules defined by the Guna people<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":18393,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[29,87,36],"tags":[1543,793,7695,7696,50],"class_list":["post-18391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-politics-government","category-featured","category-investments","tag-colombia","tag-energy","tag-guna-congress","tag-indigenous-consultation","tag-panama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18391","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\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18391"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18391\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18394,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18391\/revisions\/18394"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18393"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18391"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18391"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}