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
AMLO Set to Announce Energy, Infrastructure Economic Recovery Plan in Coming Weeks
Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said during his morning press conference on Monday his government was planning to launch an infrastructure plan in the next two weeks. No details were provided, but immediately prior to the coronavirus shutdown a long-awaited public-private infrastructure plan including energy projects worth close to $100 billion was expected to…
August 18, 2020
Argentina’s Natural Gas Plan Said Aimed at Stabilizing Production
Although not yet official, Argentina is reportedly set to launch a tender program aimed at guaranteeing the country’s natural gas supply for the upcoming four years. The proposed tender system would consist of a four-year block auction mechanism starting in October, which would differentiate offers for the peak winter season and the rest of the…
August 18, 2020
Despite Lower Demand, OPEC Sees Latin American Oil Production Outside of Venezuela Holding Firm in 2020
Latin American liquids production is expected to rise 2.27% to 6.19 million b/d this year even as global oil demand has plummeted, according to the latest monthly report issued by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The figure does not take into consideration Venezuela, Latin America’s only OPEC member, where oil production has…
August 13, 2020
Mexico Business Group Calls for Shift in Energy Policy as Exports, Economy in Decline
Mexican business chamber Confederación Patronal de la República (Coparmex) has issued a statement warning that Mexican energy policy as outlined in a memorandum from President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to energy sector regulators is damaging to investor confidence at a time when the country desperately needs to jumpstart economic activity. Mexico’s gross domestic product (GDP)…
August 13, 2020
Facing Unprecedented Economic Contraction, Mexico’s Government Urged to Change Course on Energy Policy
Mexican business chamber Confederación Patronal de la República (Coparmex) has issued a statement warning that Mexican energy policy as outlined in a memorandum from President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to energy sector regulators is damaging to investor confidence at a time when the country desperately needs to jumpstart economic activity. Mexico’s gross domestic product (GDP)…
August 11, 2020
Argentina Natural Gas Production Down Again in June
Natural gas production in Argentina decreased by 10% year/year in June to 126 million cubic meters/day (MMm3/d), or 4.45 Bcf/d, according to the latest report by the IAE Argentine Energy Institute. Analysts attributed the drop to restrictions in place because of the coronavirus pandemic and “a level of demand notably different from the same month…
August 6, 2020
Continuity of Mexico’s Energy Reform at Risk as AMLO Doubles Down on Threats
Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has sent a memorandum to energy sector regulators underlining his government’s commitment to undo changes made during the previous administration while continuing to strengthen state oil company Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) and state utility Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE). The eight-page memorandum, reviewed by NGI’s Mexico GPI, was dated July…
August 4, 2020
TC Energy Pushes Back Tula-Villa de Reyes In-Service Date to 2021
TC Energy Corp. expects the phased entrance into service of the 886 MMcf/d Tula-Villa de Reyes pipeline in Mexico to occur in the first half of 2021. The delayed pipeline has been further held back by coronavirus contingency measures, which have impeded granting work authorizations because of administrative closures, executives said Thursday during a second…
July 30, 2020
Hess Sees Bakken Oil Production Climb 26% in 2Q
Hess Corp. saw net production from its acreage in the Bakken Shale increase to 194,000 boe/d in the second quarter compared with 140,000 boe/d in the prior-year quarter, with net oil output up 26% to 108,000 b/d. The New York City-based independent attributed the performance to increased wells online and improved well performance. Total second…
July 30, 2020
Despite Covid-19, Oil Curtailments, Pemex Maintains Production Rates in 2Q
Mexico’s Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) held steady its oil and gas production in the second quarter despite major upheaval in oil markets caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Liquid hydrocarbons production was 1.693 million b/d in the second quarter, flat compared with year-ago output of 1.690 million b/d. The figure included the 100,000 b/d of output shut-in…
July 28, 2020