Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MEXICO620
2006-02-03 21:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Mexico
Cable title:  

MEXICO/CENTAM ENERGY - MEXICANS MOVE ON ENERGY

Tags:  ENRG MX PGOV PREL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5909
PP RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHME #0620/01 0342136
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 032136Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8737
INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBE/AMEMBASSY BELIZE PRIORITY 1368
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 3610
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1155
RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA PRIORITY 3406
RUEHMU/AMEMBASSY MANAGUA PRIORITY 0884
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 2081
RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE PRIORITY 1455
RUEHSN/AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR PRIORITY 2277
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO PRIORITY 0675
RUEHTG/AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA PRIORITY 1537
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 MEXICO 000620 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR EB/ESC, WHA/EPSC, AND WHA/MEX
USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/NAFTA ARUDMAN AND ITA/ENERGY DIVISION
TREASURY FOR IA MEXICO DESK
ENERGY FOR KDEUTSCH AND SLADISLAW

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG MX PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: MEXICO/CENTAM ENERGY - MEXICANS MOVE ON ENERGY
INITIATIVE

REF: A. MEXICO 374


B. SECSTATE 11181

C. 05 MEXICO 6895

D. 05 MEXICO 7368

E. 05 MEXICO 7466

F. 05 MEXICO 7533

Sensitive but Unclassified, entire text.

Summary
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 MEXICO 000620

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR EB/ESC, WHA/EPSC, AND WHA/MEX
USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/NAFTA ARUDMAN AND ITA/ENERGY DIVISION
TREASURY FOR IA MEXICO DESK
ENERGY FOR KDEUTSCH AND SLADISLAW

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG MX PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: MEXICO/CENTAM ENERGY - MEXICANS MOVE ON ENERGY
INITIATIVE

REF: A. MEXICO 374


B. SECSTATE 11181

C. 05 MEXICO 6895

D. 05 MEXICO 7368

E. 05 MEXICO 7466

F. 05 MEXICO 7533

Sensitive but Unclassified, entire text.

Summary
--------------


1. (SBU) To avoid the appearance that the U.S. is pulling
the strings behind the Mesoamerican Energy Integration Plan
(PIEM),Mexican Energy Undersecretary Hector Moreira will not
send a team to brief U.S. officials until he has the cover of
the proposed Binational Commission (BNC) in Washington.
Nonetheless, Foreign Secretary Derbez will send his Assistant
Secretary for Economic Affairs, Irma Gomez to Washington next

SIPDIS
week to provide a more general political-level briefing.
Meanwhile, the Central American PIEM participants have
approved a "Terms of Reference" document for initial studies
on the planned refinery. The IDB has provided Mexico with a
first draft of a similar document for a proposed gas pipeline
linking Colombia and Mexico (copies e-mailed to Washington
agencies). PIEM participants have also agreed on a first
list of projects on energy efficiency and have discussed ways
to cooperate on renewables. While the GOM is interested in
our help with the PIEM, they suggest we channel specific
offers of cooperation through the IDB. End Summary.

Mexican Team Won't Come to Washington in February...
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) Emincouns and Econoff met Mexican Undersecretary
for Hydrocarbons Hector Moreira Wednesday, January 25 to
discuss the state of play in the PIEM and to follow-up
questions outlined in ref B. Joining Moreira were
Secretariat of Energy (SENER) Director General for

SIPDIS
International Affairs Salvador Beltran Del Rio and SRE
Director General for Economic Bilateral Relations, Luis
Landa. Moreira opened by reiterating the message we received
from SRE Unit Head Gomez (ref A) that Energy Secretary
Canales would attend the upcoming Binational Commission and
meet with Secretary Bodman, though he wondered whether the

new Canadian minister would be able to attend to allow
coverage of SPP goals. Nonetheless, he would not travel to
the U.S during February to brief on the Central American
energy plan. He explained that the PIEM initiative remained
in a nascent state and that press coverage that might arise
over meetings with U.S. officials on the details of the
project before it was more thoroughly defined could kill it
before it got off the ground. He added that the PIEM needed
to be seen as a Mexican project. He dismissed even an
expert level visit during February for the same reason. As
alternatives, Landa noted that SRE Unit Head (Assistant
Secretary equivalent) Irma Gomez would be traveling to

SIPDIS
Washington the week of February 6 and her diplomatic role
would enable her to raise the topic without raising undue
press concerns. Moreira added that he could foresee leading
a team that would accompany or advance a Canales BNC
delegation by a few days to meet with Washington agencies on
the PIEM. He believed that the BNC would provide appropriate
"justification" for a visit.


...But, SRE Official Will Visit Washington Next Week
-------------- --------------


3. (SBU) To preview her visit to the U.S., econoff met
separately February 3 with Luis Landa who reviewed Gomez's

MEXICO 00000620 002 OF 005


talking points for Washington officials. While Gomez would
not be able to discuss technical aspects of the proposal, she
could review the project's rationale. Despite earlier
comments from SENER officials (ref C) that the primary
purpose of the PIEM was to assure an outlet for Mexican
crude, Landa countered that impetus for the plan came from
Mexican opposition to Chavez, who he described in very
un-diplomatic terms. Central America's dependence on
Venezuelan oil had to be reduced. Moreira too had called
Petrocaribe "unsustainable." Chavez was making too many
promises he could not keep, and sooner or later countries
would see he could not be relied on. The Central American
market was small enough that a single refinery could supply
it. When President Fox raised the issue at Mar de Plata, the
primary purpose for the project had morphed to that of
reducing the regions dependence on refined product imports.


4. (SBU) While building a refinery had been the initial
response to the regions energy woes, questions remained.
What were the supply security implications of a single source
of fuel for the entire region? The market within the region
was balkanized with "important people" controlling
importation of refined products in many of the Central
American states. Could the countries be made to create a
regional gasoline market despite those vested interests?
Harmonized standards, Landa argued, would be essential for
the region to take advantage of the refinery's economies of
scale. Without agreement to modify regulatory frameworks,
the project would die.

Refinery Project Status
--------------


5. (SBU) Landa quickly reviewed the January 13, 2006 draft
of the IDB's terms of reference (copies e-mailed to
Washington agencies). The terms of reference are
instructions from the IDB to the firm that will eventually be
selected to conduct the initial studies of the project
(reftels). According to this draft, the first phase of work
will include:

-- market studies for refined product in the region
-- studies to determine the necessity of additional capacity
in the region.
-- a recommendation on a site for the proposed refinery.
-- an outline the process flow including determination of
inputs and outputs, as well as technology to be employed, and
-- a simplified business model.


6. (SBU) According to Landa, the consulting firm, to be
chosen in February, is scheduled to begin work March 1.
Central American countries would hold at least one interim
meeting April 24 to receive a progress report on the
consulting firm's findings. Experts would meet again to
review final results of the first phase of the consulting
firm's work May 21 and to develop a presentation to leaders
who will meet May 31 in Santo Domingo. If the May meeting
results in a decision to go ahead with the project, leaders
would sign a second document that would bind them to continue
with it. While Landa did not outline all of the details of
this proposed document, he noted that it would include a
commitment to undertake the necessary political reforms that
would create a harmonized market.


7. (SBU) Moreira reported that the technical committee of
PIEM participants met January 23 and quickly approved the
draft Terms of Reference document described in para 5.
Despite earlier reports from Moreira's staff as on dissent
among the participants vying for the project, he said the
document was approved almost without debate.


MEXICO 00000620 003 OF 005


DOE Refinery Questions
--------------


8. (SBU) We also reviewed the questions from reftel paper
with Moreira. While, many of the ultimate responses to the
questions will depend on the outcome of the consultant's work
outlined in para 4, Moreira, a former UNAM Petroleum
Engineering Professor, is the conceptual father of the
refinery project. His responses follow each of the
questions:

-- Will the refinery operator contract be a build-operate-own
(BOO) or build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract? It is unclear
if the public, multi-country-owned energy company will own
the refinery or if the private entity will own the refinery.

It is premature to define the nature of the refinery operator
contract (BOO versus BOT). As outlined in the original
Mexican presentation, the initial plan called for the
refinery to be built, owned and managed by an experienced
multinational energy company.

-- How will the brokering company for the refinery be funded
and managed?

The brokering company would be funded through capital
contributions from each of the participating countries.
While management of the company had not been outlined in
detail, staff would come from the participating countries, as
well.

-- Why does there need to be a public company created, adding
debt to the countries involved when a private company could
take on this project and generate revenue for the nations
involved?

The initial paid in capital for the brokering company would
be relatively small, approximately USD 100 million. Divided
among all of the participating countries, the capital
required for the brokering enterprise would not be
significant expenditure. Moreira added that the refinery
would only be viable if it could take advantage of economies
of scale at production levels of 250 thousand barrels per
year. An investment in the brokering company would keep
participating states tied to product from the refinery. It
would also ensure that windfalls from high refining margins
or high crude prices would accrue to the participating
governments to be used to meet development goals, rather than
to leave the region.

-- What is the nature and purpose of the tax on imported
petroleum products produced outside this plan?

The tax on imported petroleum products would help to maintain
gasoline quality standards in the region. Moreira explained
that there is now no standard for sulfur content for
gasolines sold in Central America. Furthermore, consumers in
the region are not sophisticated enough to discern the
difference. As an environmental measure, the proposed
refinery would produce low sulfur fuels that could easily be
undercut by cheaper higher sulfur product imported into the
region. The proposed tax would apply to fuels that do not
meet a specified sulfur content imported into the region.

-- How will product from the refinery be distributed given
the lack of existing infrastructure?

This will be determined from the IBD study described in the
"Terms of Reference".

-- Will there be restrictions on other companies importing

MEXICO 00000620 004 OF 005


gasoline or other finished products into the region?

As currently envisioned, there will be no restrictions,
though the participating nations or entities within the
nations will have to execute long term purchase contracts for
fuels produced by the refinery.

-- How will the plan allow for competition?

Except as noted above, the refinery will operate in an open
market.

-- Can Mexico afford to supply the refinery in light of their
declining oil production concerns?

Moreira, and others to whom we have spoken at SENER and Pemex
have been unequivocal in their statements that current plans
call for Mexican crude production stay near constant given
new production coming on line from fields including
Ku-Maloob-Zaap and the Light Marine Crude project. Despite
acknowledging conflicting reports from outside sources on
Mexico's reserve picture, Moreira predicted that Mexican
crude exports would increase three percent in 2006. He sees
no inherent conflict between supplying the refinery and
Mexico's production capacity.

-- If the refinery will accept alternative sources of supply,
where could they come from?

Moreira noted that Mexico sought a very long-term contract to
supply the refinery with its crude as a principal condition
for the project. This contract would, he believed; fully
load the facility, obviating the need for additional crude
supply. At the conclusion of the initial purchase contract,
the brokering company could choose other sources if it wished.

Gas Pipeline Project
--------------


9. (SBU) Landa and Moreira both noted that while the Natural
Gas project was on a slower timetable, leaders could possibly
decide to approve a Colombia-Mexico gas interconnection at
the May 31 meeting, though this was less clear. On January
27, the IDB issued a draft "Terms of Reference" document for
a study of the pipeline project (copy e-mailed to Washington
Agencies). According to the draft document, the selected
consulting firm should consider supply to the region from
Mexico or Colombia or from NGL regassification. The first
phase of analysis should include: an updated regional gas
demand forecast; definition of a possible supply scenarios;
and recommendations of the best way to supply the region. A
second phase would add: a proposal for a regulatory framework
for the region; possible pipeline alignments and an first
environmental impact analysis; and development of a financing
and development plan. The Central American representatives
are due to review this draft proposal in February.

Renewables and Energy Efficiency
--------------


10. (SBU) At the meeting of Central American experts on
renewables, January 30-31 (ref F) on the margins of the World
Bank Renewable Energy Policy Forum, the representatives
agreed on eight conclusions geared mostly towards increased
cooperation and exchange among the participants. According
to Landa, they defined no specific project. (Conclusions
e-mailed to Washington Agencies) On energy efficiency,
Mexico has proposed specific cooperation programs that
include: modifying street lighting to use more energy
efficient bulbs; promotion of alternative fuels for
electricity generation; and assisting participants with

MEXICO 00000620 005 OF 005


development of regulatory frameworks to allow consumers to
replace old appliances with more energy efficient models.
Mexico will pay for Central American experts to meet February
17 in El Salvador to approve these projects and develop
funding schemes for the projects. Funding sources could
include the GOM, the UN Economic Commission for Latin America
(CEPAL),and the IDB. Landa noted that the Mexican Foreign
Affairs Secretariat would foot the bill for the initial work
in this area to ensure follow-up.

Comment: Working With Mexico
--------------


11. (SBU) Senior officials from SENER and SRE have been
willing to provide us with information on the progress of the
PIEM. To gain our acceptance of the project they have not
shied away from sharing their anti-Chavez views--SRE directly
and SENER, by outlining for us why Venezuela was not serving
the region well. They are; however, very sensitive about the
PIEM remaining a Mexican regional project, fulfilling what he
considers his committment to Deputy Secretary Zoellick to
send a briefing team to Washington. While Moriera made it
clear at our meeting that "news of his presence in the halls
of the State Department" would kill the PIEM, he was happy to
talk with U.S. officials. He only needed the cover the BNC
would provide. Landa noted that after Moreira made his
decision not to send a team in February known, Derbez ordered
Gomez to brief Washington on the project. All involved
believe that Gomez is far enough away from the details of the
project that she can show her face in Foggy Bottom. She will
be well briefed, and should be able to answer questions about
Mexico's work with the IDB, though she will be less
successful with technical details. On cooperation, Landa
strongly suggested that the USG remain in close contact with
IDB Regional Operations Division Chief Marcelo Antinori about
specific tie-ins with U.S. efforts and IDB Vice President
Ciro De Falco about our support for the project(s). End
Comment.


Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity

KELLY