The main underground structures on the new El Alto hydropower plant in Chiriqui province of Panama, in the district of Renacimiento near the Costa Rica border, are the 3.24 km-long headrace, surge tanks, a 96 m-high piezometric shaft, and a 368 m-long penstock.

In October, 2010 the JV Panama Power Holdings Inc/Hydro Caisan SA awarded the EUR36.3 million EPC job to Italian contractor Seli. The headrace tunnel, where excavation with a 6.79 m-diameter EPB TBM began in 2011, broke through on 18.02.2013. The Panamanian authorities have extended the development timetable for the 60 MW hydro plant until July, 2014. 09/13.