MICI-PN-2011-031

Panama - Panama - Panama Canal Expansion Program

Country: Panama

Reception date: October, 10 2011

Current Status: Closed

Requesters:
Leila Shelton-Louhi on her own and on behalf of coalition Alianza Pro Panama

Summary of the Request

Ms. Leila Shelton-Louhi, Director of the “Comité Pro Defensa del Lago Gatún”, submitted a Request to the MICI on her own behalf and in representation of the non-governmental organizations coalition “Alianza Pro Panamá” (the Requesters). The Request alleges, among other things: (a) lack of transparency, incomplete disclosure of information and misrepresentation of Project-related facts among the local and international community; (b) the potential that the expansion of the Canal could lead to the increased inflow of salt water into the Panama Canal Watershed, adversely affecting biodiversity; (c) lack of adequate risk identification and appropriate mitigation measures related to a major seismic fault threatening the Canal’s Pacific end; and (d) potential insufficiency of water resources to manage the expansion of the Panama Canal efficiently and sustainably.

MICI actions

On July 29, 2015, the Board of Executive Directors considered the Compliance Review Report for case PN-MICI002-2011 presented by the Panel. After taking note of it, it issue its final decision with regard to the three areas covered by the investigation:


About seismic risk and compliance with the Disaster Risk Management Policy (OP-704):the Board concluded that Management had not complied with the Policy requirement to report the level of risk. Therefore, it instructed Management to produce a report consolidating (a) Management Response to the Compliance Review Report; (b) the result of the seismic classification given to the project, and; (c) the steps that the Bank has taken to ensure that seismic risks have been appropriately managed.


About water availability and compliance with the Environment and Safeguards Compliance Policy (OP-703): the Board concluded that the Bank complied with the Policy and therefore does not accept the findings or the recommendations made by the Panel


About the Western Watershed: The Board confirmed based on the Panel Report that the area of the Western Watershed is not within the scope of the project and therefore concluded that any finding made by the Panel is not a matter in which the Bank can intervene or make recommendations.

For more information access the following documents in the Case Chronology:

- Compliance Review Report for Case PN-MICI002-2011

- Management Presentation to the Board of Executive Directors

- IDB Report regarding Seismic Risk Categorization and Assessment for the Panama Canal Expansion Program


End of Process:

On August 4, 2015, after the disclosure of the Compliance Review Report and the Notification of the Final Decision of the Board to the Requester, the Borrower and the Public, the processing of this Request by MICI is concluded.

Less - 2014

The investigation was slated to conclude in February 2014, but the Panel requested various extensions to clarify and supplement its findings. The Compliance Review Phase Report was scheduled to be released in June 2015 and Management had already sent the comments on the Draft of the Report.

Less - 2013

On February 24, 2013, the Panel presented a Recommendation and Terms of Reference for a Compliance Review to the Board of Executive Directors for consideration, which were revised to address some requests for clarification and subsequently approved on September 12, 2013. Given that the Panama Canal Expansion is also being financed by other Multilateral Development Banks to which the Requesters also submitted claims, the MICI’s investigation was conducted in close cooperation with the Independent Accountability Mechanisms of the European Investment Bank and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

Less - 2012

The Request was declared eligible for the Consultation Phase. Nevertheless, the Executing Agency, the “Autoridad del Canal de Panamá”, indicated its unwillingness to engage in the dialogue process. Consequently, in June 2012, the Project Ombudsperson issued the Assessment and Consultation Phase Report concluding that the dialogue was not feasible and declaring the Phase concluded. The Requesters asked the MICI to transfer the case to the Compliance Review Phase, and on September 20, 2012, the Request was declared eligible for this Phase

Project Number:

PN-L1032


Environmental Category:

A


Project Name:

Corporate Loan to ACP to Support the Panama Canal Expansion Program


Sector:


Project Type:

Loan Operation


IDB Invest Financing:

USD 400,000,000.00


Steps and milestones Date Remarks Documents
INTAKE
Filing of Request

 

Request received by Executive Secretariat

 

 

October 10, 2011

 

 

Registration

 

Notice of registration of Request and transfer to the Consultation Phase

 

 

October 17, 2011

The document is available only in spanish

 

CONSULTATION PHASE
Eligibility for the Consultation Phase

 

Eligibility due date

 

 

November 7, 2011

(15 business days from date of transfer to the Consultation Phase)

 

 

Eligibility revised due date

 

 

January 17, 2012

Two 45-day pauses of the process for conversations between Requester and Management.

 

 

Issuance of Eligibility Memorandum

 

 

February 12, 2012

The Eligibility Memorandum is published after it is distributed to the Board of Executive Directors.

 

 

Eligibility memorandum distributed to the Board of Executive Directors

 

 

March 27, 2012

 

 

Assessment

 

Assessment due date

 

 

June 11, 2012

(120 calendar days from the date of issuance of the eligibility memorandum)

 

 

Assessment revised due date

 

 

June 27, 2012

 

 

 

Issuance of Assessment Report

 

 

June 28, 2012

The Assessment Report is published after it is distributed to the Board of Executive Directors.

 

 

Assessment Report distributed to the Board of Executive Directors

 

 

July 20, 2012

Assessment and Consultation Phase Report were presented in a single document.

 

 

Issuance of Consultation Phase Report

 

 

June 28, 2012

The Consultation Phase Report is published after it is distributed to the Board of Executive Directors.

 

 

Consultation Phase Report distributed to the Board of Executive Directors

 

 

July 20, 2012

 

 

COMPLIANCE REVIEW PHASE
Compliance Review Intake

 

Notification received by Executive Secretariat indicating/ratifying Requester(s) desire to have a Compliance review by the Panel

 

 

August 15, 2012

 

 

Transfer Notice

 

Notice of transfer

 

 

August 24, 2012

 

 

Eligibility for the Compliance Review Phase

 

Eligibility due date

 

 

September 14, 2012

(15 business days from date of transfer to the Compliance Review Phase)

 

 

Issuance of Eligibility Memorandum

 

 

September 14, 2012

The Eligibility Memorandum is published after it is distributed to the Board of Executive Directors.

 

 

Eligibility Memorandum distributed to the Board of Executive Directors

 

 

October 11, 2012

 

 

Terms of Reference (TORs)

 

Issuance of draft recommendation and TORs

 

 

December 10, 2012

 

 

 

Due date for Management and Requester’s comments to draft recommendation

 

 

January 18, 2013

(20 business days for submission of comments). Original date for submission of comments from Management and Requesters was January 11, 2013. Extension was granted till January 18, 2013.

 

 

Submission of the final document to the Board of Executive Directors for consideration

 

 

April 1, 2013

April 17, 2013: Document considered by the Board, clarifications requested. August 7, 2013: Revised version of the document considered by the Board, further clarifications requested. September 12, 2013: Revised version of the document approved by the Board.

 

 

Determination of the Board of Executive Directors to conduct a Compliance Review

 

 

September 12, 2013

The recommendation to conduct an investigation was approved.

 

Investigation

 

Expected end date of review by the Panel

 

 

February 13, 2014

 

 

 

Revised end date of review by the Panel

 

 

June 30, 2015

(if more than 30 calendar days from the date stated in the TORs) First extension: July 4, 2014. Second extension: October 31, 2014. Third extension: March, 2015. Fourth extension: June, 2015.

 

 

Distribution of Panel Report to the Board of Executive Directors

 

 

July 14, 2015

 

 

 

Final decision of the Board of Executive Directors

 

 

July 29, 2015

Documents included: Notification of the Final Decision; Management Presentation to the Board of Executive Directors; IDB Report regarding Seismic Risk Categorization and Assessment for the Panama Canal Expansion Program.

 

 

Publication of Panel Report

 

 

August 4, 2015

20 calendar days from distribution to the Board of Executive Directors

 

Closing of the Compliance Review Phase

 

File transferred to the Executive Secretariat

 

August 4, 2015