Mexico City /
After the modification to the energy reform of 2013, which return to Mexican Petroleum (Pemex), to the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) to public companies, the Employers’ Confederation of the Mexican Republic (Coparmex), warned that the absence of an independent system operator such as the National Energy Control Center (Cenace), could affect investor confidence.
Through a statement, the business group commented that this change in the reform could affect investors, because “they require clear rules to operate and expand the energy infrastructure in Mexico.”
“This lack of certainty discourages national and international investors and mainly affects small and medium-sized companies, which do not have the same access to credit and financing in a high-risk environment,” he indicated.
“This increases the cost of development and prevents new sources of electricity generation from joining the market,” he said.
What line should the energy sector follow?
Coparmex reaffirmed the importance of maintaining an energy sector based on competition, sustainability and transparency, which is why they considered it essential to guarantee an environment conducive to the equitable participation of the various market actors.
Furthermore, he commented that the proposal to grant a predominant role to the CFE raises doubts about the impartiality and feasibility of electrical dispatchthis is because there is concern about the lack of clarity about how the 54 percent generation proportion will be guaranteed.
Also, the business group highlighted that the current wording of the law also poses challenges for the financing of new investments, so this could increase the cost of development, as well as adding new sources of electricity generation to the market.
“The possibility that CFE and PEMEX concentrate a significant part of the energy market threatens to limit competition and slow progress towards a democratized and decentralized energy model, which allows consumers to generate their own energy and reduce costs,” he noted.
If this trend consolidates, it would “contravene the right of Mexicans to a fair market and an electrical system that responds to their needs.”
In this sense, Coparmex called for dialogue with the authorities to reconsider these aspects of the reform and listen to the proposal of the business group on the “Clean light for all Mexicans”, which prioritizes an inclusive and competitive model.
K.L.
