Mexico’s energy regulatory commission, the Comison Reguladora deEnergia (CRE), has called for a public hearing to discuss measuresfor advancing toward a “more efficient and competitive Mexicannatural gas industry.” The call for action follows an Aug. 1measure implemented by the CRE to alleviate the burden of therecent price volatility experienced by the gas industry.

President Ernesto Zedillo’s industry reforms in 1995 allowedprivate investors to participate in the development of new storage,transportation, and distribution infrastructure. Since then, about$2.2 billion has been committed to build 24,180 miles of naturalgas delivery systems that will supply 10 million people in 149municipalities across the country.

The hearing will also discuss how to go about meeting thegrowing demand in the country. Mexican officials estimate demandfor natural gas will rise at an average annual rate of 9% over thenext 10 years.

The hearing will be scheduled in November. Those interested insubmitting proposals are invited to attend. Reference materialsdetailing the structural reform process and the challenges facedwill be published on the CRE website at www.cre.gob.mx. After themeeting, the CRE will gather ideas and publish a document withsummaries of the proposals by Jan. 12, 2001. On or before March 9,2001 the CRE expects to publish a document which will outlinepossible measures or concrete proposals to update the institutionaland legal frameworks of the Mexican natural gas industry.

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