LatinNews Daily - 09 April 2026

*Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced a plan to explore unconventional natural gas deposits in a bid to lower the country’s reliance on natural gas imports amid the disruption to global energy markets caused by the war in Iran. Such deposits are typically accessed via fracking, although Sheinbaum notably avoided this term. Sheinbaum stated that a committee of scientists and specialists in water management, sustainable exploitation, geology, and the environment will be formed to issue recommendations on accessing the unconventional natural gas deposits within two months. In the meantime, she said a ‘strategic plan to strengthen energy sovereignty’ would consist of three main actions: using more efficient equipment that consumes less energy; increasing the use of renewable energy sources; and developing natural gas reserves from conventional fields to reduce imports of this resource. According to Energy Minister Luz Elena González Escobar, Mexico consumes 9bn cubic feet of natural gas daily, of which 2.3bn cubic feet is produced by the state oil company, Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), and 6.8bn cubic feet, or around 75%, is imported, with 80% coming from Texas and 20% from California, both US states on the Mexican border. While Sheinbaum said that contracts for US gas imports were guaranteed, she stated that “increasing energy sovereignty is a responsible decision”. González added that such a reliance “creates sensitivity to international price fluctuations, vulnerability to weather events, international conflicts, limitations on regional development, uncertainty regarding supply security, and dependence on foreign decisions”. The proposal is to leverage Mexico’s natural gas reserves and continue increasing electricity generation from renewable sources, with the goal of rising from 24% to 38% by 2030.

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