The eleventh edition of the forum Energy Sector in Mexico: Challenges and Opportunities, held on May 30 and 31 in Villahermosa, Tabasco, brought together representatives of the different associations within the sector to debate on energy concerns in the country and to further its development.
In this regard, in a panel discussion titled National Electricity Program: Challenges and Opportunities, organized by the Mexican Energy Association (AME) and moderated by the AME Vice-chairman and CEO of Mitsui Power Américas, Ramón Moreno Vergara, the assistants debated on the possibilities to enable a more efficient access to the electricity grid and on the importance of strengthening the transmission network in Mexico.
Oliver Flores Parra, head of the Electricity Unit of the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), explained that the National Electricity Plan was prepared to achieve a sovereign, sustainable, efficient, and low-emission energy access.
Likewise, he emphasized that the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) must improve the effectiveness of transmission lines in the short term so they can resist abrupt changes in the market and to guarantee energy security in the country.
The Executive Secretary of the Mexican Association of Solar Energy (ASOLMEX), Israel Hurtado, asserted that the lack of investment in transmission lines is a wake-up call to industry participants.
“Without investment in transmission lines, we can expect a much larger problem that the one occurred in the Yucatan Peninsula. The transmission system needs to be optimized, but we also need to know how”, said Hurtado.
Moreover, the CEO of Naturgy Norteamérica, José García Sanleandro, called on the Mexican government to define its standing during this presidential term, so the private sector can know how to act.
“This administration should also guarantee legal certainty and the existence of a regulatory agency provided with the greatest degree of independence, in order to have regulatory certainty”, said García Sanleandro.
The representative of Iberdrola Renovables México, Alfonso Campos, emphasized on the importance of having private companies with better social welfare programs for the regions where they operate, in order to help improving a sustainable local growth and to reinforce permanence bonds.