A summary in Spanish of our arguments and observations about Pemex’s participation in the 2014 Offshore Technology Conference was published in a column in the Mexico City daily newspaper REFORMA on June 10, 2014, with the title “Ronda Uno, primero.”
Following the example set by Brazil, and with strong lobbying from Pemex, the Mexican government incorporated into its energy reform legislation the concept of a “Round Cero,” to be followed by subsequent rounds in which other companies besides Pemex could compete. In this report, we argue that for the sake of securing international recognition of the robustness and competitiveness of the upstream energy reform package, the holding of Round One is far more important to the government than any confirmation of Pemex’s rights in existing and prospective production.
We also worry that holding a “Round 0.5,” as Gustavo Hernández the Pemex breakfast speaker at OTC suggested, will muddy the waters of the upstream reform, perhaps permanently.
Click Round One, First: Why the public interest in Mexico is best served by having Pemex go last
