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NEW IMAGE, NEW VISION NARCÍS DE CARRERAS Country Manager Mexico of Naturgy
Q: What is behind the company’s recent rebranding from
A: Three years ago, GPG had an installed capacity of
Gas Natural Fenosa to Naturgy?
2,234MW from its power generation facilities. As a result
A: The main reason behind this rebranding is the company’s
of the technical optimization that has taken place at our
transformation along with its global operations. Our brand
combined cycle plants, the company has added 200MW to
has undergone three renovations: a merger in 1992 between
its capacity, and we have another 200MW in the pipeline.
Catalana de Gas and Gas Madrid, followed by Gas Natural
We want to develop greenfield projects in the solar and
and Union Fenosa in 2008, and another in 2018. Through
wind segments. The company is waiting to see the new
this process, we realized that we had been losing touch with
administration’s strategy for the electricity industry, but
the reality of both the company and industry alike. Having
Mexico has great potential in the field of renewables.
natural gas in our name even though we now not only deal in this energy source, but energy as a whole, no longer
Regarding the development of the WEM, our experience
made sense. This is why we took advantage of our recent
has been good. Our main focus has been bilateral contracts
strategic plan launched in June 2018, the organizational
with industry off-takers. The market is maturing and needs
transformation and the refocusing of certain business
liquidity and continuity. In Spain, this transition took 10
divisions, to launch Naturgy.
years, so we cannot expect a big change in the short term. In general, from the electricity and gas perspective, the
Q: What major contribution is Naturgy making to the
model derived from the Energy Reform has been very well-
Mexican energy industry?
constructed. As for our own plans, Naturgy is still working
A: Over the last few years our objectives have not changed
on the final phases to achieve a relevant participation in
much. We have been in Mexico since 1997 and since 2008
this market as a qualified supplier.
as an integrated gas and electricity group. The last 10 years have seen Naturgy contribute by becoming the number
Q: Looking forward, where do you see the company at
one player in terms of natural gas distribution, and number
the end of 2019?
four as a private electric power producer, not only through
A: Our goal is to have continuity in the development of
combined cycle plants, but wind power as well, with our
our distribution network, specifically in important urban
wind farm in Juchitan, Oaxaca.
hubs like Mexico City and Monterrey. Our viewpoint is for natural gas to be on the agenda of every city that wants a
Our most important contribution in 2018 was initiating
profitable energy source with low carbon emissions. In this
natural gas distribution activities in the region of Sonora.
particular context, given the 20,000km pipeline network
We worked on this project intensively over the last three
that Naturgy has developed across the country and the
years as it was a new area for the company. Our top
almost 60,000km of the industry, there is a great deal of
priority is the acceleration of our distribution activity
room for natural gas to grow. The opportunity this network
because we believe that natural gas has a bright future in
offers as an energy solution is already there, for energy
Mexico. Nevertheless, the penetration of this service is quite
solutions, the development of stations for vehicular natural
low. Natural gas consumption in the residential segment
gas applications, and more. This is an amazing opportunity
represents 7 percent of the total energy mix. Even the use
and Naturgy is ready to be part of it.
of biomass in the form of wood holds a major share. The path forward is daunting, but Naturgy’s main goal is to offer a more reliable, comfortable and cost-effective service.
Naturgy is a private Spanish utilities company that specializes in the generation, commercialization and distribution of electricity
Q: What role is Naturgy’s GPG division playing in the
and natural gas. It has a global presence that spans more than
development of the country’s electricity industry?
20 countries with a portfolio of over 22 million clients
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