Matasnillo project: BESSAC – transforming Panama City’s sewers
The Matasnillo Project is a large-scale construction initiative aimed at modernizing the wastewater infrastructure across several districts of Panama City. Launched by the Panamanian government with financial support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the CAF, the goal is to build a new central sewer collector to significantly improve water management and the quality of life for residents.
A Project to Address a Sanitary Emergency
For many years, the neighborhoods of Betania, Pueblo Nuevo, Bella Vista, and San Francisco have suffered from frequent discharges of untreated wastewater. The Matasnillo Project seeks to relieve an overwhelmed sewer system by constructing a main collector and its interconnections.
An International Collaboration
The project is led by the BRD Consortium (Bessac, Rodio Swissboring, Dirac), under the leadership of Bessac. Around 40 professionals from various international backgrounds are involved, supported by up to 200 workers mobilized on-site.
Bessac Andina brings specialized expertise (operators, surveyors, mechanics), while Rodio Swissboring contributes both personnel and equipment for shaft construction. A true collaboration between France, Spain, Costa Rica, Panama, Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico and Colombia!
A Large-Scale Technical Project
The Matasnillo Project includes:
– 13 launch shafts made of shotcrete (Ø 5.5 to 6 m, depth 5 to 16 m),
– 14 reception shafts (Ø 4.5 to 4.75 m), along with 10 connection shafts,
– 27 microtunneling drives: 16 of 1200 mm (4,973 m) and 11 of 1500 mm (2,581 m), with drive lengths up to 444 m,
– 19 connections (total length 800 m, depth 2 to 7 m), using various methods (open trench, jacking, directional drilling).
Local Pipe Production: A Successful Bet
The project requires the production of 2,500 reinforced concrete pipes, manufactured locally. With technical support from the BRD Consortium – both in design and mold acquisition – 300 pipes have already been successfully produced. A major innovation: the application of a new lining, a first for Bessac, which ensures excellent chemical resistance and enhanced durability.
Challenges and Outlook
The project is being carried out under challenging urban conditions, with many construction sites located directly on roadways, complicating logistics and coordination. Excavating through solid rock – both for shafts and tunneling – also presents a significant technical challenge.
Delivery is scheduled for the end of 2026.
Congratulations and good luck to all teams involved in this project!
