In response to rapid growth in Panama, global water technology group Xylem has opened a new sales and service office to provide greater customer support to the developing Latin American mining market.  For Xylem, this expansion in Latin America reflects the company’s commitment to expansion within emerging markets. The company’s Flygt and Godwin pumps are already being used for the Panama Canal expansion project.

Simoni Dobrowolski, Managing Director of Xylem’s Panama office said: “While it is a small market with a population of four million, Panama offers immense growth potential for Xylem. The expansion of the Panama Canal, extensive mining and dewatering projects as well as commercial and residential opportunities which will deliver growth within the water treatment sector mean that we see a lot of opportunity in Panama. We are looking forward to providing our expert water solutions capabilities to local customers as well as to clients across the wider Latin American region.” Xylem has recently been involved in the first expansion of the 100 year-old Panama Canal, providing Flygt and Godwin pumps for dredging and construction works. Dobrowolski stated, “Our technical collaboration with the Panama Canal Authority extends back many years and we are well positioned to grow this relationship to create new and exciting opportunities for Xylem.”

In addition, Xylem predicts strong growth within Panama’s mining industry. Panama is home to two of the world’s largest, undeveloped copper deposits which, combined with Panama’s extensive rainfall, offer significant opportunities for the company’s dewatering business. Panama is home to two of the world’s largest undeveloped copper deposits, including the $6 billion Cobre Panama project. Minera Panama, a subsidiary of Inmet Mining, is currently preparing to start construction on the project, with shipment of the first concentrate planned for 2016. The Cerro Petaquilla mining district close to the Caribbean coast includes at least eight separate deposits and ranks as the world’s third largest copper and gold ore complex. Dobrowolski estimates that in the future, mining could account for as much as 40% of Xylem’s business in Panama.