VIEW FROM THE TOP
COST-EFFECTIVE NATURAL GAS FOR SOUTHEASTERN REGION JUAN HERNÁNDEZ Director General of Industrias Energéticas
Q: What is Industrias Energéticas' (IE) added value as a
services remains deficient, several investors have expressed
service provider of the hydrocarbon industry?
their interest in placing capital to develop the infrastructure
A: IE is a 100 percent Mexican company, with more than 15
for this service.
years of experience in the sector. It can provide effective and reliable solutions with the support of warranties that
Q: How has IE’s footprint in vehicular natural gas evolved
few companies can provide. We are among only nine
since our last interview?
companies in Mexico certified as socially-responsible in
A: One of IE’s divisions specializes in converting diesel-
Campeche for our type of activities.
fueled buses with a dual-conversion kit to natural gas. We have developed the required infrastructure and equipment
Q: What new developments is IE undertaking?
to provide natural gas via onsite or virtual compression
A: The Ministry of Energy’s Natural Gas Pipelines Five-Year
stations. Companies such as Metrobús, Estrella Roja and
Plan 2015-2019 completely left out Mexico’s southeastern
Flecha Rocha could benefit greatly from this particular
region: Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo. The
service.
region was not deemed strategic within the plan, while it is vital for IE’s growth. The region’s growth and bolstering of
Q: What landmarks is IE targeting for 2018?
the tourism, maquiladora and commercial infrastructures
A: For IE, 2018 means a sizable challenge to rise above. We
are based primarily on electricity tariffs. These tariffs are
are coordinating the company’s spread toward subsectors
at levels that hinder the development of the previously
of the oil and gas market that constitute our specialty,
mentioned sectors, particularly for diesel and conventional
where we are developing a strong foothold and will reap
fuel. The industrial and commercial sectors in the region
the fruits of our efforts from 2017, including large-scale,
cannot grow without cost-effective energy and the required
sustainable projects directed toward PEMEX. IE complies
infrastructure to supply it.
with all norms and specifications, both national and international, showcasing itself as a top-tier company. We
Q: What challenges is IE tackling in extending pipelines to
are launching a new division, dedicated to hydrocarbon
Mexico’s southeast region?
commercialization and import, including gasoline, diesel,
A: We closed a strategic partnership with ENGIE for the
natural gas and liquid oil derivatives to sell in the Mexican
Mayakan natural gas pipeline extension. This pipeline brings
market. IE is also the first Mexican company to issue a US$70
natural gas from the Nuevo PEMEX complex in Tabasco
million IPO directed at Canada’s TSX Venture Exchange
to CFE’s electricity terminal in Valladolid, Yucatan. The
and a second worth US$500 million on the Toronto Stock
French natural gas powerhouse has a project to extend this
Exchange. This strategic move answers Mexico’s natural
pipeline from Merida to Punta Nizuc, in Cancun to supply
gas commercialization opportunities with the productive
all the Riviera Maya’s demand, which has considerably
companies of the state, as natural gas demand is set to
increased in recent years. The importance of this project
double by 2020. It also addresses the geopolitical changes
can be shown in the overwhelming demand for natural gas
in the region, primarily from NAFTA’s renegotiation, and our
in the region. Prior to this extension, ENGIE’s contract with
company’s priority to remain one step ahead and cement
PEMEX required 150mmcf per day while PEMEX can only
IE as a world-class company.
manage to provide at most 80mmcf, which are nitrogencontaminated. In parallel, IE is planning to bring an LNG vessel to Punta Nizuc to cover the short-term demand for
Industrias Energéticas is a Mexican company that provides
natural gas in this location. Loading in Puerto Progreso,
equipment commercialization and specialized services for the
we could supply close to 100mmcf per day to cover the
oil and gas, industrial and energy sectors, offering integral
prevailing shortage. While infrastructure for these kinds of
solutions with high-end technology and professional expertise
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