Yesterday, CNH approved the cancelation of the Bidding CNH-A6-7-Asociaciones/2018, which purpose was to select Pemex’s partner to develop 7 blocks located in Chiapas, Tabasco and Veracruz, mainly Light Oil (405.1 mmboe of 3P). 
 
It is not the first time that the regulator cancelled a Bidding process. The lack of interest shown for the block Nobilis-Maximino, resulted also in the cancellation of its process (December 2017). On this occasion, Pemex withdrawn its interest stating that:

“[it] has considered adequate [to] continue carry on the petroleum activities in the contractual areas of the Bidding CNH-A6-7-Asociaciones/2018 under the corresponding Asignaciones […],the budget granted […] will allow the attention of a bigger number of projects […], new schemes of business under the Asignaciones will be evaluated”.

The Ministry of Energy agreed “Without the 7 contractual areas, the Bidding, […] is left without purpose”.

It is a fact that the budget assigned to Pemex this year (USD$13,849.3 million) and the rest of the financing measures implemented are not enough to face its debt, and the compromises announced by the administration. An additional income had contributed to achieve them. 3 farm-outs represented an income of USD$1,733.5 million for the State Productive Enterprise. 

Developing these Asiganciones, with the private industry, had represented a big opportunity to: i) enhance Pemex´s technical, financial and operative capabilities; ii) incorporate reserves; iii) add production to the 2024-goal (2.5 MM bpoe); iii) provide certainty to the foreign investment, and more importantly, iv) benefit to the Mexican economy. 

As, Commissioner Sergio Pimentel mentioned, “everybody wants a strong Pemex”. Service Contracts and Bidding process has been proved; however, the results were not the same.  

Source: 32th Extraordinary Session of 2019, CNH.


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Layla Vargas
General Director