Cuatrecasas discussion on regulatory changes in Mexico’s energy sector

On March 6, Cuatrecasas held the forum “Changes in Mexico’s energy policy: opportunities and challenges” at its Mexico City offices. The forum focused on exploring and analyzing the opportunities and challenges that Mexico faces in the context of its energy sector’s new policies and regulations.

Cuatrecasas partner León López launched the meeting and then gave the floor to Carlos Elizondo, professor at the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education. Elizondo shared with the audience his vision of the current political and public finance situation, highlighting the main steps taken in the last six years toward a model of greater state intervention in energy matters.

Alejandra Palacios, external director at Cuatrecasas, moderated a panel in which Carla Medina Perezgomez, chair of the board of Asolmex; Katya Somohano, CEO of Iberdrola Mexico; Abraham Zamora, president of Sempra Infraestructura; and Marco Antonio de la Peña, Cuatrecasas partner, participated.

Marco Antonio de la Peña stated, “We are at a watershed moment. It is essential that all those involved work to understand the framework proposed for the initiatives that will soon be approved by Congress. We must understand the challenges, reflect on them and design solutions and strategies that, based on dialogue with the authorities, will enable companies in the sector to participate in a coordinated manner with the Mexican State.”

In the same vein, Alejandra Palacios said, “The proposed regulatory model for the energy sector will face practical challenges that must be framed within the regulations and complementary regulations, with priority given to the dialogue between the actors concerned.”

Finally, León López, summarized, “The aim of this meeting was to provide the attendees with a comprehensive vision of the new legal framework outlined in the sector, intensified with the change of vision concerning energy policy from 2018, the energy sector’s revival with the 2024 constitutional reform, and the forthcoming laws proposed for hydrocarbons and electricity, as well as some of the legal and regulatory challenges anticipated for this sector.”