Sheky Espejo, Platts
MEXICO CITY
EnergiesNet.com 09 14 2022
Mexico has agreed to work with the US to develop clean energy projects to strengthen the competitiveness of supply chains in the North American region, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Sept. 13.
Mexico has agreed to work with the US to develop clean energy projects to strengthen the competitiveness of supply chains in the North American region, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Sept. 13.
Lopez Obrador met with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo on Sept. 12 prior to a high-level economic dialogue which included the Mexican secretaries of Economy and Foreign Affairs. The teams spoke about Mexico’s involvement in developing clean energy together with the US for the auto industry. The two countries are committed to improving their relationship despite a few isolated cases of disagreement, the president said during his daily press conference.
The meeting comes after the US passed the Chips and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, which observers say could increase cooperation between the two nations in the renewable energy sector.
“Secretary Blinken spoke about consolidating the North American region, and we agree,” the president said adding that the current paradigm is to generate resources regionally, including energy, to reduce transportation costs. Lopez Obrador took the opportunity to present his “Plan Sonora” to the US team.
Plan Sonora is a project to develop solar parks in the northern state of Sonora and the construction of gas-fired power plants to back-up the solar parks. The plan, announced in August, also includes the construction of transmission lines that would export electricity to Arizona and California. The first phase envisions a 1 GW solar farm in Puerto Penasco that would be followed by others of similar size. The farm is expected to start operations in 2024.
No problems with US companies
President Lopez Obrador highlighted that there was no mention of sanctions or tariffs during their conversation with Secretary Raimondo despite the trade disputes that have recently started.
In July, the US Trade Representative’s office requested consultations under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, to address Mexico’s energy policies which favor state companies Pemex and CFE. The process could result in retaliatory measures if Mexicos measures are found to be inconsistent with USMCA or the parties are unable to agree on a solution.
President Lopez Obrador said he took the opportunity to assure Blinken that the Mexican government has no problems with any energy company operating in the country.
“The trade disputes that have recently started were originated by people who want the government to have confrontations with the US and have political reasons,” the president said.
Lopez Obrador said Blinken showed the same level of respect for Mexico’s sovereignty and independence that the Biden administration has shown for his agenda, and there was no talk of retaliation during the conversation.
“The discussions to solve individual disputes with companies will continue, but those differences should not define the relationship,” he said.
The president was speaking specifically about a dispute with US-based exploration and production company Talos Energy over a shared reservoir called Zama.
spglobal.com 09 13 2022