Letter from Mexico: Deepwater ambitions drowning in debt
Mexico must harness the vast resources in the Gulf to meet the government’s goal of energy autonomy
Deepwater Gulf of Mexico is a province retaining significant potential for oil and gas exploration wins, but Mexico’s search for these prizes has lagged significantly behind that of the US. Now, under the presidency of Andres Lopez Obrador, Mexico is seeking to recentre the oil industry as the country’s primary lever for socioeconomic development. And the country must try to capitalise on existing deepwater Gulf resources and find more to make Lopez Obrador’s dream of energy sovereignty viable. It is likely too late, though, for the basin to contribute materially to a 2024 output target of 2.6mn bl/d. Despite the current administration’s stated focus on its NOC reducing debt, Pemex remains t
Also in this section
6 February 2026
The long close relationship between key supplier Qatar and pivotal buyer Japan becomes even deeper following new landmark deal
6 February 2026
Partnerships across the LNG value chain have evolved over time, growing in both complexity and importance, according to panellists at LNG2026
6 February 2026
Nigeria's mega-refinery is still trying to solve many challenges, all while its owner talks up expansion
5 February 2026
While broadly supportive of EU efforts to tackle methane emissions, representatives of the gas industry warn it could deter supply contracting if timelines and compliance requirements are not made more pragmatic






