MAXAM
MAXAM takes part in the inauguration of the Panama Canal expansion
2016.06.27
Terra Solutions - Press Room - News - MAXAM takes part in the inauguration of the Panama Canal expansion
The Company has performed more than 3,500 blasts over the course of this emblematic project, which will improve and increase global maritime trade.
On the 26th of June, Manuel García-Sañudo, Managing Director of MAXAM Civil Explosives, took part in the inauguration ceremony for the expansion of the Panama Canal, one of the largest civil engineering projects in the history of humanity.The project, carried out by the international consortium “Unidos por el Canal” (GUPC), has counted on MAXAM as the main supplier of blasting solutions. MAXAM’s mission has been to deepen and lengthen the canal's third lock. By blasting the seabed rock, the lock is now 21.5 m wider and 5.3 m deeper, whilst its length has also increased by 107 m up to 427 m.
In the words of Manuel García-Sañudo: "It has been an honour and a priviledge to have taken part in this complex, historical project of global importance. The work carried out in the Panama Canal has allowed MAXAM to position itself as a world leading reference in complex blasting solutions in general and specifically in underwater operations. Our contribution towards this achievement has been the execution of more than 3,500 blasting operations carried out with the highest safety standards, without impacting on either the rest of works being undertaken or infrastructures being built, and always respecting the environment and rich wildlife of the area, reducing the initially scheduled timings and cushioning the impact of other activity delays that usually arise in projects of this magnitude. In one of the phases, we took just five months to complete a work which was scheduled to last between 18 and 20 months”.
MAXAM has fulfilled an essential role in this project, which will know allow the transit of larger ships along the 80 km of the canal. These new Post-Panamax ships are 366 m long, 49 m wide and 15 m deep, and also have greater cargo capacity, carrying up to 12,000 containers, compared to the previous figure of 4,500. The passing of up to three times bigger vessels will avoid more than 160 million tones of CO2 emmissions to the atmosphere, will produce direct benefits for trade allowing passenger boats, bulk cargo vessels and gas carriers through the canal, meeting the increasing requirements generated by a increasingly global world.
The acting Minister of Development in Spain, Ana Pastor, has referred to the Panama Canal as “one of the most important pieces of work ever achieved by Spain” and has highlighted that it is "an outstanding example of the expertise of Spanish companies".
MAXAM – www.maxam.net
MAXAM is an industrial and services group that operates globally, developing, manufacturing and marketing blasting services and products and initiation systems for mining, quarries and infrastructure, cartridges and powder for sport hunting and products and services for the defence industry. It also provides key raw materials for nitro-chemical activities, such as energetic nitrocellulose and ammonium nitrates, for internal use by MAXAM, as well as for sale to third parties.
MAXAM, founded by Alfred Nobel in 1872, ended 2015 with an annual turnover of 1.115 million euros. It operates in the main mining areas around the world, with manufacturing facilities in more than 45 countries and sales in more than 100 countries on five continents, with more than 6,500 employees.
Further information:
Lucas Ferreira
MAXAM
Communications Director
+34 91 722 01 00
lferreira@maxam.net
Louis Trollope
MAXAM
Communications Officer
+34 91 722 01 00
ltrollope@maxam.net
