Four Sugar Mills Interested in Producing Ethanol in Panama According to Energy Secretary Rodrigo Rodríguez

At least four sugar mills have expressed interest in entering the bioethanol production sector in Panama, amid discussions of Bill 443, which proposes mandatory blending of ethanol with gasoline.  Of this group of companies, the one that has resonated the most is the Alanje Sugar Mill, belonging to the family of the current Comptroller of the Republic, Anel Flores.

Assembly Rejects Minority Proposals on Ethanol; Debate Continues Monday April 27

The plenary session of the National Assembly resumed this Thursday, April 23, the second debate of bill 443, which establishes the mandatory blending of gasoline with ethanol, a discussion marked by political remarks and accusations of special interests.  The first to speak, before the documents were rejected, was Congressman Luis Eduardo Camacho, from the Realizando Metas (RM) party.

Vamos Party Members Warn about the Effects of the Ethanol Law on Food, the Environment, and the Local Market

Representatives Jorge González and Alexandra Brenes, from the Vamos party

It is unconstitutional, threatens the food security of Panamanians, and puts the national ecosystem at risk by prioritizing commercial interests over public welfare. These are some of the assessments of Representatives Alexandra Brenes, Jorge González, and Jhonathan Vega, from the Vamos party, regarding Bill 443, which establishes mandatory ethanol in Panama.  The report warns that the project violates Article 49 of the Political Constitution, which prohibits monopolies and orders the protection of free competition and consumer rights, since it forces the population to consume gasoline with a mixture of 10% anhydrous bioethanol.