5 things to know about investing in Mexico power and gas

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Mexico needs a competitive investment market throughout its energy value chain. Mexico's power and gas reforms are creating competitive investment markets as the Pemex and CFE monopoly across the gas and power value chain is eroded and the country adopts a model similar to that in the United States. Driven by a decade of volatile GDP growth, Mexico's power demand has averaged 2.3% growth over the past 10 years, while natural gas demand has increased nearly twice that amount, as low gas prices and the phasing out of oil have created a greater need for gas-fired generation.

Mexico’s energy reform is heating up investment activity — and not just upstream. The US$15 billion gas pipeline build and Pemex’s exit from the midstream should provide continued infrastructure opportunities, while power M&A emerges as renewables dominate and CFE unbundles.

Eric Eyberg

Vice President, Head of Americas Gas and LNG Consulting

Eric leads our South American gas and power consulting, with personal expertise in gas and power.

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While some uncertainties remain, we expect demand growth to continue as Mexican imports increase and gas pipelines expand, CFE and Pemex unbundle value chain positions, and renewables gain market share through government incentives.

Here are some specific reasons to consider investing today:

1. Renewables are taking off — at staggeringly low prices.

As CFE begins the unbundling process and market design is well into the implementation phase, the big story is renewables, as solar and wind dominated the first 2 long-term power auctions organized post-reform at incredibly low prices (US$47/MWh in March and US$33/MWh in September), which seem to be the new international 'norm'.

2. Solar, wind and gas generation will require approximately US$100B in investment to achieve clean energy targets.

Achieving 2035 clean energy targets would require approximately 50 GW of new solar and wind capacity, and gas will still play a key role, with nearly 30 GW of new capacity, requiring a total of about US$100 billion in investment over the next 20 years.

3. Natural gas infrastructure has increased significantly.

In the gas sector, Mexico's domestic natural gas production has declined steadily since 2010's peak production, driving an unprecedented US$15 billion CFE-led gas infrastructure build-out accessing cheaper US natural gas. A new state entity, CENAGAS, is poised to take over the old Pemex system.

4. Mexico needs a competitive investment market throughout its energy value chain.

Monumental gas and power integration challenges lay ahead, requiring considerable value chain investment as Mexico plays 'catch up' on the gas sector reform front.

5. Merger and acquisition activity will strong see near-term growth.

M&A activity in the G&P sector will likely continue to increase in the next 3 to 5 years in lockstep with the current investment boom and reform progress.