•ENERGY: Mexico’s energy regulator (CRE) has stalled more than US $10.6 billion in investments in the country’s electric sector by withholding at least 80 permit applications for renewables and natural gas power generation projects since May 2019, official records show.
•LAW: According to Mexican law, permit applications must be resolved within a maximum of 60 business days from being admitted for processing but all of the projects -totaling 9,800 megawatts- have already exceeded the waiting period, including 37 of them filed last year.
•INVESTMENT: “The fact that generation permits continue to accumulate impacts investor confidence in the country, since the law very well established reasons for delaying the permit or the reasons for denying it,” said Elie Villeda, business director for panel manufacturer First Solar
• EXCESS: Experts believe that the delay is tied to claims by the López Obrador administration that there is an “excess of projects” and a decision to prioritize projects by Mexico’s state-owned utility (CFE). Last week, the Trump administration defended US firms investment in Mexico’s energy sector.
