Christopher joined NGI as a Senior Editor for Mexico and Latin America in November, 2018. Prior to that, he was a Senior Editorial Manager at BNamericas in Santiago, Chile. Based out of Santiago, he has covered Latin American energy markets since 2009 as a reporter, editor and analyst. He has an MA in International Economic Policy from Columbia University and a BA in International Studies from Trinity College.
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Articles from Christopher Lenton
Billionaire Carlos Slim Accumulating Mexico Oil, Natural Gas Assets
Mexican conglomerate Grupo Carso SAB has bought into another Mexico oil and natural gas field in shallow waters offshore Campeche. Carso subsidiary Zamajal SA de CV would acquire PetroBal SAPI de CV and its 50% interest in the Ichalkil and Pokoch fields. PetroBal is the oil and gas subsidiary of Mexican conglomerate Grupo Bal. The…
December 19, 2023
U.S. Natural Gas Production, Breaking Records, Keeps Prices in Check for Mexico End-Users – Spotlight
North American natural gas futures slumped below $2.500/MMBtu this week amid ample supplies and weak domestic demand. Mexico demand for attractively priced U.S. gas, though, hasn’t abated. For the past 10 days through Thursday, average pipeline imports of U.S. natural gas into Mexico averaged 6.59 Bcf/d. This was an increase of 0.80 Bcf/d over the…
December 14, 2023
In Final Stretch, Mexico’s AMLO Still Trying to Get Rid of Energy Regulators
Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, or AMLO, is ending his term the way he started it – by lambasting the nation’s regulators and accusing them of being in cahoots with private business interests. On Monday, the president said he would try to push a bill through Congress in his final months that would eliminate…
December 13, 2023
Alberta Sees Double-Digit Growth in Oil, Natural Gas Investments This Year
Alberta, Canada’s top hydrocarbon producing province, has seen strong investment in both oil and natural gas projects, which is leading to a strong revenue boost in 2023. “Prospects for the energy sector remain positive, underpinned by solid energy prices and the anticipated increase in Alberta’s takeaway capacity,” according to Alberta’s recent fiscal update. “Energy prices…
December 8, 2023
North America Natural Gas Futures Refuse to Budge as Mexico Projects Advance — Spotlight
North American natural gas futures kept sinking this week amid strong U.S. production and a weak demand outlook. January New York Mercantile Exchange natural gas futures closed up marginally Thursday at $2.585/MMBtu. On Wednesday, ExxonMobil released an updated corporate plan that showed a delay at Golden Pass LNG Train 1, with the project now expected…
December 7, 2023
Argentina’s Milei Promises Vast Shake-Up in Natural Gas-Rich Nation
Libertarian Javier Milei swept to victory in Argentina’s presidential elections last month promising drastic change and a radically new way of doing business in the country. The 53-year-old outsider has since vowed to privatize state oil and natural gas firm YPF SA. “Everything that can be placed into the hands of the private sector, will…
December 5, 2023
North American Natural Gas Futures Flailing; Mexico Imports Steady – Spotlight
Warm weather and stout supplies kept North American natural gas futures prices in check and below $3.00/MMBtu for yet another week. The January natural gas futures contract stumbled on its first day as the front-month Wednesday, settling at $2.804/MMBtu, down 3.3 cents day/day. February fell 2.9 cents to $2.769. On Thursday, January slipped to $2.802/MMBtu…
November 30, 2023
Oil, Natural Gas Companies Urged to Pay Greater Attention to Energy Transition Opportunities
Natural gas investment would continue even in a future scenario where all nations meet their emissions reduction pledges, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a new report on the role of oil and gas companies in a changing energy landscape. The report, titled “The Oil and Gas Industry in Net Zero Transitions,” was peer…
November 30, 2023
Mexico Pacific Takes Another Step Toward Realizing LNG Export Ambitions
Mexico Pacific Ltd. LLC has announced a new advance on its 2.8 Bcf/d Sierra Madre natural gas pipeline. Mexico Pacific has hired a joint venture (JV) of Mexican construction company GDI Sicim Pipelines SA and oil and gas services firm Bonatti SpA to execute the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the project. Sierra…
November 28, 2023
Mexico’s Natural Gas Market Said Alive and Well Despite Attempts to Limit Private Sector Role
Mexico’s natural gas market remains intact and competitive near the end of the Andrés Manuel López Obrador presidency, according to experts who spoke last week in San Antonio, TX. At the US-Mexico Natural Gas Forum, former Comisión Reguladora de Energía (CRE) chairman Guillmero Garcia Alcocer said “it’s a very alive, very intense” natural gas market…
November 20, 2023