Since the landmark energy reforms were introduced in late 2013, sweeping change has reverberated across Mexico’s oil and gas industry. After 75 years of tight government control, the energy sector was pried open to foreign involvement for the first time as international companies surged to participate in a series of breakthrough bidding rounds.

Fast forward and again much has changed. Mexican President Andres Lopez Obrador, after taking office in December 2018, quickly froze all licensing rounds, set ambitious upstream targets and prioritised the construction of a new refinery in Tabasco. At the same time, Mexico has rapidly become an upstream hotspot, with major discoveries from Spanish explorer Repsol and Italy’s Eni in early 2020.   

The expert panel assembled discussed some of these key themes, examining the state of Mexico's energy reforms, as well as the challenges that the sector faces. Topics include:

•    How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected E&P and what does this mean for the regulatory environment? 
•    What does the outcome of unitisation discussions mean for private sector E&P?
•    What current issues do the midstream and downstream face in Mexico?
•    How have international treaties impacted Mexico's energy reforms and what does this mean for foreign investment