Jan 7 (Reuters) - Panamanian energy developer Sinolam

LNG Terminal S.A. and Sinolam Smarter Energy LNG Power Co. on

Wednesday said they filed a $4 billion lawsuit in Virginia

against U.S.-based utility AES Corp ( AES ) ‌and InterEnergy

Holdings, alleging an unlawful campaign to monopolize Panama's

LNG-to-power market.

In ​a complaint filed in Arlington County Circuit Court,

Sinolam accused ‍AES and its partners of anti-competitive ⁠conduct

aimed at ⁠derailing Sinolam's planned LNG terminal and gas-fired

power project in Colón, Panama.

The ‌suit alleges "coercive tactics," misuse ​of confidential

information and improper influence over regulators to delay

permits and revoke licenses.

Sinolam said it ⁠had secured permits, power ‍purchase

agreements ​and long-term customer commitments for the projects,

which it positioned as part of Panama's ambitions to expand

LNG-related ‍activity following the Panama Canal expansion.

The complaint alleges that AES ( AES ) executives, acting from the

company's Virginia headquarters, directed efforts to slow the

permitting process and push for regulatory action that would

undermine Sinolam's authorizations.

Sinolam also ​alleges ‍InterEnergy misused information

obtained under a non-disclosure agreement to help form a joint

venture with AES ( AES ) ​that, it says, displaced Sinolam and its

prospective customers.

Sinolam is accusing the defendants of leveraging political

influence, including ties to Panama's government, which holds a

stake in AES's ( AES ) local unit AES Panama S.R.L., to secure monopoly

control over LNG imports and ​power generation.

AES ( AES ) said that the claim "lacks merit" and intends to defend

itself vigorously.

InterEnergy did not immediately reply to a Reuters

request for ‍comment.