Puerto Armuelles, Chiriquí
Encyclopedia
Puerto Armuelles is a city on Panama
's Pacific Coast
in the western province
of Chiriquí Province
next to Costa Rica
. Puerto Armuelles is the second largest city
in Chiriqui
province
with a population
near 25,000, and has not one, but two different type of deep-water ports, one for Banana
s and one for oil
. Puerto Armuelles is just 5 miles (8 km) from the border
with Costa Rica
as the crow flies yet the actual border crossing lies 21 miles (33.8 km) away. David
the capital of Chiriquí Province
is about 60 miles (96.6 km) away. Panama City
is some 235 miles (378.2 km) way or approximately 6 – 8 hours drive on the Pan American Highway. Puerto Armuelles most famous citizen is Omar Moreno
who was a baseball outfielder from 1975-1986 in the U.S. The name, Puerto Armuelles, was given to the city
in honor of one of the heroes of the Coto war, Tomás Armuelles, member of the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) who died in an accident on March 18, 1921, during the Coto War between Panama and Costa Rica. The former name of the city was "Rabo de Puerco" or "Pigtail". Google earth has as of April 2008 updated images of Puerto Armuelles to a much clearer image. The image shows from the bridge entering town all the way down the coast past the oil port terminals. Although most of the image is empty ocean any clear picture of the main parts of Puerto Armuelles are a blessing.
Once the center of a thriving Banana
economy, Chiquita Banana i.e. United Fruit Company
sold its unprofitable Pacific division which was based in Puerto Armuelles since 1927 to a cooperative of banana workers in 2003. Striking workers and other such problems with employees sped the demise of Puerto Armuelles relationship with United Fruit Company
.
Panama
fought Costa Rica
in the 1920s near Puerto Armuelles. The Coto War was fought over a relatively small piece of territory. Panama
was victorious, but gave the territory to Costa Rica
in the 1940s after the dispute was mediated by the U.S.A. and found in favor of Costa Rica
. The President of Panama
decided to abide by that ruling although it was a very unpopular decision in Panama
. An interesting side note is that today Panama
and Costa Rica
both have no military
just a civil defense force. Both countries, although doing so decades apart, felt that this was the only way to end military
takeovers of their government
s. For more info see military of Panama
.
related. In the 1970s in response to the oil embargo
Alaska's Prudhoe Bay was developed and a pipeline
built down to ports in the southern Alaska
. Due to the size or lack of it the Panama Canal
cannot handle super tankers and thus were unable to cross over to the Atlantic and to the refineries of Houston and the Gulf coast. Puerto Armuelles with its deep water just outside town called Charco Azul
or in English "Blue Ditch" was an ideal place to bring in those Super Tankers and unload. Once switch to Panamax
tankers the oil
could then cross the canal
and on to the U.S. refineries. Very soon after operations started the need for a pipeline
was recognized and one built in 1982 crossing from Puerto Armuelles over the mountains with the help of pumping stations like that at Boquete
and ending in Chiriqui Grande in Bocas del Toro
province on the Caribbean
coast where once again super tankers could take the oil
on to U.S. refineries.
It seems oil
will become Puerto Armuelles salvation from economic ruin of losing its "company" the United Fruit Company
. In 2006 it was announced that Puerto Armuelles was in the running to be considered for a refinery
. Occidental (OXY) said by the end of 2007 or the beginning of 2008 they will finish their feasibility study
regarding the possibility of building a petroleum
refinery
in Puerto Armuelles in the province
of Chiriquí Province
. The refinery
, with a cost of about $7 billion dollar
s, will be able to process 400000 barrels (63,594.9 m³) of heavy crude from Mexico
, South America
, and the Middle East
. Much of the refinery's output will be delivered to the west coast of the United States
, and will include 185000 barrels (29,412.6 m³) of gasoline
per day, 45000 barrels (7,154.4 m³) of jet fuel
, 90300 barrels (14,356.6 m³) of diesel fuel and 6,300 daily barrels of fuel oil
.
Last October OXY determined there is sufficient crude
to construct the refinery
in Puerto Armuelles. An excited Minister of Commerce
and Industry
Alexander Ferrer reiterated that the company is still completing their feasibility study at the moment, maintaining his interest in the project
. Ferrer will travel to Houston to meet with company representatives to be briefed. So far it is known that OXY has held conversations with investors that might be interested in the project. Petroterminales of Panama (PTP) is also being negotiated with to obtain their participation. Panama
's only other refinery
in Colon
closed in 2002. The deal is still pending, but this multi-billion dollar
/euro
deal will mean that the economic good times come back to Puerto Armuelles after the loss of the United Fruit Company
banana
business. The project would generate approximately 6,000 new direct and indirect jobs. Panama
is programming courses to train new welder
s and electrician
s, among others to prepare for this economic boom. Construction may begin as early as February 2008. An interesting side note is that apparently Panama
's willingness to become home of a new refinery in Puerto Armuelles has brought another unrelated oil
group to Panama
interested in building a new refinery
in Colon
which is located at the Atlantic side entrance to the Canal
. The Canal expansion which is underway and Puerto Armuelles refinery
projects were worth more than Panama's GDP combined a second refinery would bring that investment well above the GDP.
Earthquake
s have hit Puerto Armuelles several time including one in July 1934 and another on Christmas night 2003 both of which killed several locals. On July 1, 1979 an earthquake
hit Puerto Armuelles, which destroyed the poorly built multi story high school
(fortunately it was a Sunday afternoon). The oil
terminal also suffered extensive damage worth 2 million dollar
s including the loss of a very expensive parts into the deep water of Charco Azul and although divers
were contracted the steep descent of the ocean
floor led to the part rolling off and never being recovered.
Beyond the earthquakes which are common anywhere in the pacific rim
of fire Puerto Armuelles weather
is tropical weather
for latitude
8.28333 degrees. Highs around 92F most days and lows around 72F at night. The beach is nearby if it is too hot for you or up the mountain
to Volcan Baru
which towers over the area at 11,400 feet (3478 m) high, and can be seen from hills of Monte Verde.
Puerto Armuelles currently is "a company town which lost its company" according to the weekly newsletter "So you want to retire to Panama
" May 9, 2005 edition by Paradise Services. Also the mass migration of the young people to the big cities particularly Panama City
has been on going for decades just like in the U.S. rural
areas. The hope now lies in maybe bring in a refinery
and maybe the dream of economic prosperity will revive and make Panama the region's first massive refinery.
If you ever travel to Puerto Armuelles and drive in the best route to downtown is once past the main bridge entering town a half mile (.8KM) the road will fork, take the right fork (straight gets you lost). After a third of a mile (.55KM) the road turns slightly left and crosses what use to be a railroad track which was ripped out when Chiquita left town. Another third of a mile (.55KM) the road will make a turn left at the high school turning 90 degrees left. Another third of a mile the road will make a slight left and cross a bridge approximately a half mile (.8KM) after the big left curve. Two tenths of a mile (.33KM) after the bridge you should see the local hospital on your left. The road will curve right after this and you will arrive at a semi-confusing intersection. At this point going straight another quarter mile (.4KM) gets you to the local airport and continuing on straight takes you to the "zonita" (small zone) named so because mostly Americans (working for Chiquita) lived here just like the Panama Canal Zone
in the capital. Turn Left at the semi-confusing intersection takes you into "downtown" puerto. Going straight you have to turn left then right when it dead ends to get to the beach front. Turn left takes you down the main street at this point. The lay out of down town is confusing at best. You can also take a right immediately after clearing the intersection and this road bends to the left and takes you to the pier.
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
's Pacific Coast
Coast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
in the western province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
of Chiriquí Province
Chiriquí Province
Chiriquí is a province of Panama, it is located on the western coast of Panama, and it is also the second most developed province in the country, after the Panamá Province. Its capital is the city of David. It has a total area of 6,490.9 km², with a population of 416,873 as of the year 2010...
next to Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
. Puerto Armuelles is the second largest city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in Chiriqui
Chiriquí Province
Chiriquí is a province of Panama, it is located on the western coast of Panama, and it is also the second most developed province in the country, after the Panamá Province. Its capital is the city of David. It has a total area of 6,490.9 km², with a population of 416,873 as of the year 2010...
province
Provinces of Panama
Panama is divided into nine provinces and three provincial-level indigenous regions...
with a population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
near 25,000, and has not one, but two different type of deep-water ports, one for Banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
s and one for oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
. Puerto Armuelles is just 5 miles (8 km) from the border
Border
Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and other subnational entities. Some borders—such as a state's internal administrative borders, or inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and...
with Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
as the crow flies yet the actual border crossing lies 21 miles (33.8 km) away. David
David, Panama
David is a city located in the west of Panama. It is the capital of the province of Chiriquí and has an estimated population of 144,858 inhabitants as confirmed in 2010. It is a relatively affluent city with most families and houses having basic living requirements, such as concrete houses, clean...
the capital of Chiriquí Province
Chiriquí Province
Chiriquí is a province of Panama, it is located on the western coast of Panama, and it is also the second most developed province in the country, after the Panamá Province. Its capital is the city of David. It has a total area of 6,490.9 km², with a population of 416,873 as of the year 2010...
is about 60 miles (96.6 km) away. Panama City
Panama City
Panama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...
is some 235 miles (378.2 km) way or approximately 6 – 8 hours drive on the Pan American Highway. Puerto Armuelles most famous citizen is Omar Moreno
Omar Moreno
Omar Renan Moreno Quintero was a Major League Baseball outfielder from 1975 to 1986. He was best known for his years with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and was the starting center fielder and leadoff hitter on their 1979 World Series-winning team.Moreno made his first appearance with the Pirates in...
who was a baseball outfielder from 1975-1986 in the U.S. The name, Puerto Armuelles, was given to the city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in honor of one of the heroes of the Coto war, Tomás Armuelles, member of the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) who died in an accident on March 18, 1921, during the Coto War between Panama and Costa Rica. The former name of the city was "Rabo de Puerco" or "Pigtail". Google earth has as of April 2008 updated images of Puerto Armuelles to a much clearer image. The image shows from the bridge entering town all the way down the coast past the oil port terminals. Although most of the image is empty ocean any clear picture of the main parts of Puerto Armuelles are a blessing.
Once the center of a thriving Banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
economy, Chiquita Banana i.e. United Fruit Company
United Fruit Company
It had a deep and long-lasting impact on the economic and political development of several Latin American countries. Critics often accused it of exploitative neocolonialism and described it as the archetypal example of the influence of a multinational corporation on the internal politics of the...
sold its unprofitable Pacific division which was based in Puerto Armuelles since 1927 to a cooperative of banana workers in 2003. Striking workers and other such problems with employees sped the demise of Puerto Armuelles relationship with United Fruit Company
United Fruit Company
It had a deep and long-lasting impact on the economic and political development of several Latin American countries. Critics often accused it of exploitative neocolonialism and described it as the archetypal example of the influence of a multinational corporation on the internal politics of the...
.
Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
fought Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
in the 1920s near Puerto Armuelles. The Coto War was fought over a relatively small piece of territory. Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
was victorious, but gave the territory to Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
in the 1940s after the dispute was mediated by the U.S.A. and found in favor of Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
. The President of Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
decided to abide by that ruling although it was a very unpopular decision in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. An interesting side note is that today Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
and Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
both have no military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
just a civil defense force. Both countries, although doing so decades apart, felt that this was the only way to end military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
takeovers of their government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
s. For more info see military of Panama
Military of Panama
The Panamanian Public Forces are the national defense forces of Panama. Panama is the second country in Latin America to permanently abolish standing armies, leaving it with only small para-military forces. This came as a result of a US invasion that overthrew a military dictatorship which ruled...
.
Heavy industry and petroleum
Puerto Armuelles other major employer is oilOil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
related. In the 1970s in response to the oil embargo
Embargo
An embargo is the partial or complete prohibition of commerce and trade with a particular country, in order to isolate it. Embargoes are considered strong diplomatic measures imposed in an effort, by the imposing country, to elicit a given national-interest result from the country on which it is...
Alaska's Prudhoe Bay was developed and a pipeline
Pipeline transport
Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Most commonly, liquids and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed air are also used....
built down to ports in the southern Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. Due to the size or lack of it the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
cannot handle super tankers and thus were unable to cross over to the Atlantic and to the refineries of Houston and the Gulf coast. Puerto Armuelles with its deep water just outside town called Charco Azul
Charco Azul
Charco Azul is an area just outside Puerto Armuelles Panama. Charco Azul translates to blue ditch or puddle because it is very deep. Take a few steps into the ocean and where on a normal beach you might be up to your knees the water is above your head. The ocean floor drops off dramatically in a...
or in English "Blue Ditch" was an ideal place to bring in those Super Tankers and unload. Once switch to Panamax
Panamax
Panamax and New Panamax are popular terms for the size limits for ships traveling through the Panama Canal. Formally, the limits and requirements are published by the Panama Canal Authority titled "Vessel Requirements"...
tankers the oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
could then cross the canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
and on to the U.S. refineries. Very soon after operations started the need for a pipeline
Pipeline transport
Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Most commonly, liquids and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed air are also used....
was recognized and one built in 1982 crossing from Puerto Armuelles over the mountains with the help of pumping stations like that at Boquete
Boquete
Boquete is a small town on the Caldera River, tucked into the green mountain highlands of Panama, in western-most Chiriquí Province, about 60 km. from the border with Costa Rica. Because of its altitude, some 1,200 metres above sea level, its climate is cooler than that of the lowlands...
and ending in Chiriqui Grande in Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro Province
Bocas del Toro is a province of Panama. Its extension is 4,643.9 square kilometers comprising the mainland and nine main islands. The province consists of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Bahía Almirante , Laguna de Chiriquí , and adjacent mainland. The capital is the city of Bocas del Toro on Isla...
province on the Caribbean
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
coast where once again super tankers could take the oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
on to U.S. refineries.
It seems oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
will become Puerto Armuelles salvation from economic ruin of losing its "company" the United Fruit Company
United Fruit Company
It had a deep and long-lasting impact on the economic and political development of several Latin American countries. Critics often accused it of exploitative neocolonialism and described it as the archetypal example of the influence of a multinational corporation on the internal politics of the...
. In 2006 it was announced that Puerto Armuelles was in the running to be considered for a refinery
Refinery
A refinery is a production facility composed of a group of chemical engineering unit processes and unit operations refining certain materials or converting raw material into products of value.-Types of refineries:Different types of refineries are as follows:...
. Occidental (OXY) said by the end of 2007 or the beginning of 2008 they will finish their feasibility study
Feasibility study
Feasibility studies aim to objectively and rationally uncover the strengths and weaknesses of the existing business or proposed venture, opportunities and threats as presented by the environment, the resources required to carry through, and ultimately the prospects for success. In its simplest...
regarding the possibility of building a petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
refinery
Refinery
A refinery is a production facility composed of a group of chemical engineering unit processes and unit operations refining certain materials or converting raw material into products of value.-Types of refineries:Different types of refineries are as follows:...
in Puerto Armuelles in the province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
of Chiriquí Province
Chiriquí Province
Chiriquí is a province of Panama, it is located on the western coast of Panama, and it is also the second most developed province in the country, after the Panamá Province. Its capital is the city of David. It has a total area of 6,490.9 km², with a population of 416,873 as of the year 2010...
. The refinery
Refinery
A refinery is a production facility composed of a group of chemical engineering unit processes and unit operations refining certain materials or converting raw material into products of value.-Types of refineries:Different types of refineries are as follows:...
, with a cost of about $7 billion dollar
Dollar
The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...
s, will be able to process 400000 barrels (63,594.9 m³) of heavy crude from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Much of the refinery's output will be delivered to the west coast of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and will include 185000 barrels (29,412.6 m³) of gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
per day, 45000 barrels (7,154.4 m³) of jet fuel
Jet fuel
Jet fuel is a type of aviation fuel designed for use in aircraft powered by gas-turbine engines. It is clear to straw-colored in appearance. The most commonly used fuels for commercial aviation are Jet A and Jet A-1 which are produced to a standardized international specification...
, 90300 barrels (14,356.6 m³) of diesel fuel and 6,300 daily barrels of fuel oil
Fuel oil
Fuel oil is a fraction obtained from petroleum distillation, either as a distillate or a residue. Broadly speaking, fuel oil is any liquid petroleum product that is burned in a furnace or boiler for the generation of heat or used in an engine for the generation of power, except oils having a flash...
.
Crude
Crude can refer to:* Petroleum in its unprocessed form , including:** Brent crude oil** Heavy crude oil** Light crude oil** Sweet crude oil*** Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil, a type of sweet crude** Synthetic crude oil**Crude jokes...
to construct the refinery
Refinery
A refinery is a production facility composed of a group of chemical engineering unit processes and unit operations refining certain materials or converting raw material into products of value.-Types of refineries:Different types of refineries are as follows:...
in Puerto Armuelles. An excited Minister of Commerce
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
and Industry
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
Alexander Ferrer reiterated that the company is still completing their feasibility study at the moment, maintaining his interest in the project
Project
A project in business and science is typically defined as a collaborative enterprise, frequently involving research or design, that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim. Projects can be further defined as temporary rather than permanent social systems that are constituted by teams...
. Ferrer will travel to Houston to meet with company representatives to be briefed. So far it is known that OXY has held conversations with investors that might be interested in the project. Petroterminales of Panama (PTP) is also being negotiated with to obtain their participation. Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
's only other refinery
Refinery
A refinery is a production facility composed of a group of chemical engineering unit processes and unit operations refining certain materials or converting raw material into products of value.-Types of refineries:Different types of refineries are as follows:...
in Colon
Colón, Panama
Colón is a sea port on the Caribbean Sea coast of Panama. The city lies near the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal. It is capital of Panama's Colón Province and has traditionally been known as Panama's second city....
closed in 2002. The deal is still pending, but this multi-billion dollar
Dollar
The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...
/euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
deal will mean that the economic good times come back to Puerto Armuelles after the loss of the United Fruit Company
United Fruit Company
It had a deep and long-lasting impact on the economic and political development of several Latin American countries. Critics often accused it of exploitative neocolonialism and described it as the archetypal example of the influence of a multinational corporation on the internal politics of the...
banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
business. The project would generate approximately 6,000 new direct and indirect jobs. Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
is programming courses to train new welder
Welder
A welder is a tradesman who specializes in welding materials together. The materials to be joined can be metals or varieties of plastic or polymer...
s and electrician
Electrician
An electrician is a tradesman specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, stationary machines and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure. Electricians may also...
s, among others to prepare for this economic boom. Construction may begin as early as February 2008. An interesting side note is that apparently Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
's willingness to become home of a new refinery in Puerto Armuelles has brought another unrelated oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
group to Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
interested in building a new refinery
Refinery
A refinery is a production facility composed of a group of chemical engineering unit processes and unit operations refining certain materials or converting raw material into products of value.-Types of refineries:Different types of refineries are as follows:...
in Colon
Colón, Panama
Colón is a sea port on the Caribbean Sea coast of Panama. The city lies near the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal. It is capital of Panama's Colón Province and has traditionally been known as Panama's second city....
which is located at the Atlantic side entrance to the Canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
. The Canal expansion which is underway and Puerto Armuelles refinery
Refinery
A refinery is a production facility composed of a group of chemical engineering unit processes and unit operations refining certain materials or converting raw material into products of value.-Types of refineries:Different types of refineries are as follows:...
projects were worth more than Panama's GDP combined a second refinery would bring that investment well above the GDP.
Earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s have hit Puerto Armuelles several time including one in July 1934 and another on Christmas night 2003 both of which killed several locals. On July 1, 1979 an earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
hit Puerto Armuelles, which destroyed the poorly built multi story high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
(fortunately it was a Sunday afternoon). The oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
terminal also suffered extensive damage worth 2 million dollar
Dollar
The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...
s including the loss of a very expensive parts into the deep water of Charco Azul and although divers
Underwater diving
Underwater diving is the practice of going underwater, either with breathing apparatus or by breath-holding .Recreational diving is a popular activity...
were contracted the steep descent of the ocean
Ocean
An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
floor led to the part rolling off and never being recovered.
Beyond the earthquakes which are common anywhere in the pacific rim
Pacific Rim
The Pacific Rim refers to places around the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The term "Pacific Basin" includes the Pacific Rim and islands in the Pacific Ocean...
of fire Puerto Armuelles weather
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
is tropical weather
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
for latitude
Latitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
8.28333 degrees. Highs around 92F most days and lows around 72F at night. The beach is nearby if it is too hot for you or up the mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
to Volcan Baru
Volcán Barú
The Volcán Barú is the tallest mountain in Panama and is high. It lies about 35 km off the border of Costa Rica....
which towers over the area at 11,400 feet (3478 m) high, and can be seen from hills of Monte Verde.
Puerto Armuelles currently is "a company town which lost its company" according to the weekly newsletter "So you want to retire to Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
" May 9, 2005 edition by Paradise Services. Also the mass migration of the young people to the big cities particularly Panama City
Panama City
Panama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...
has been on going for decades just like in the U.S. rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
areas. The hope now lies in maybe bring in a refinery
Refinery
A refinery is a production facility composed of a group of chemical engineering unit processes and unit operations refining certain materials or converting raw material into products of value.-Types of refineries:Different types of refineries are as follows:...
and maybe the dream of economic prosperity will revive and make Panama the region's first massive refinery.
If you ever travel to Puerto Armuelles and drive in the best route to downtown is once past the main bridge entering town a half mile (.8KM) the road will fork, take the right fork (straight gets you lost). After a third of a mile (.55KM) the road turns slightly left and crosses what use to be a railroad track which was ripped out when Chiquita left town. Another third of a mile (.55KM) the road will make a turn left at the high school turning 90 degrees left. Another third of a mile the road will make a slight left and cross a bridge approximately a half mile (.8KM) after the big left curve. Two tenths of a mile (.33KM) after the bridge you should see the local hospital on your left. The road will curve right after this and you will arrive at a semi-confusing intersection. At this point going straight another quarter mile (.4KM) gets you to the local airport and continuing on straight takes you to the "zonita" (small zone) named so because mostly Americans (working for Chiquita) lived here just like the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
in the capital. Turn Left at the semi-confusing intersection takes you into "downtown" puerto. Going straight you have to turn left then right when it dead ends to get to the beach front. Turn left takes you down the main street at this point. The lay out of down town is confusing at best. You can also take a right immediately after clearing the intersection and this road bends to the left and takes you to the pier.