The two TBMs, built by Herrenknecht, will arrive in Panama separately, in October and November. The machines have a diameter of almost 10m and will be used to bore a 7km tunnel to complete Panama Metro's line 1. The project, which was awarded to a consortium comprising FCC and Brazilian company Odebrecht, has a budget of more than €1bn (£880m).
At the ceremony Panama president Ricardo Martinelli announced the tender for line 2 of Panama Metro: "We are going to transform the former transport chaos in Panama into a safe, reliable system for all citizens."
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk