KEYPOINTS OF PRESIDENT ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR’S MORNING PRESS CONFERENCE

January 18-24, 2023

Energy

• Pre-oil production: Mexican President Lopez Obrador has announced that the state-owned company Pemex produces 97% of Mexico’s crude oil and has shown growth in oil production for the fourth consecutive year. Based on this, it is intended to produce more domestic gasoline and stop importing fuels. It is also mentioned that the participation of the private and moderate social sector is required, and it is mentioned that contracts with private companies have not been canceled. It is planned to continue investing in the rehabilitation of refineries and to build new plants to transform fuel oil into gasoline, with the objective of producing 800 thousand barrels of fuel per month, which is what is currently demanded. In addition, the use of renewable energies will be promoted and provided in the future.

• Lithium: President Lopez Obrador announces a trip to Sonora to hand over the concession of a lithium mine to the nationally-owned company LitioMX. It is also mentioned that an agreement is being sought with the company that was carrying out an exploratory process and to avoid a legal process. The objective of this plan is to manufacture batteries for electric cars and to replicate Puerto Penasco throughout Sonora in order to have clean energy throughout the state.

Infrastructure

• Mayan Train: Javier May Rodriguez, head of Fonatur, informed that a 234-kilometer railroad section is being built in the state of Campeche, with 2 stations in Edzna and Campeche and 3 stops. More than 423 thousand jobs, 50 new homes and 140 social works have been generated, and the inauguration is expected in December 2023. Antonio Gomez, Director of Grupo Carso, has indicated that construction has generated 41,279 jobs, 97% of which were hired and trained in the region. Mayte Ramos, representative of Alstom, mentioned that the trains are being built with 70% national content and will operate in dual mode (diesel-electric). Diego Prieto, Director of INAH, mentioned that the project demonstrates that technological progress is possible while preserving archeology. Maria Luisa Albores Gonzalez, head of SEMARNAT, mentions that the project has had a positive environmental impact resolution since November 2020. The Governor of Campeche, Layda Sansores, mentions that the Mayan train will connect and rescue communities and will have the largest natural protected area in the region. In addition, regarding the suspension granted by a judge for the construction of section 5 of the Mayan Train, the President indicated that the issue has already

Keypoints Of President Andres

MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR’S

Morning Press Conference

been resolved and explained that the companies in charge of the construction are complying. Regarding the appeals that have been filed in this matter, the President pointed out that all of them were declared inadmissible.

• Air Cargo: President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador commented that DHL will begin moving its cargo to the Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA) at the end of February and will attend the landing of the first DHL plane that will move to the AIFA. The president considers that it is the “conservatives” who do not want to migrate cargo transportation to AIFA and mentions that he does not have much respect for “those associations” since they are the ones they used to justify the rejection of the cancellation of the Texcoco airport. He assures that this will allow more spaces for the transporta- tion of people at the Mexico City International Airport, they will have fiscal precincts, larger spaces and they will no longer be able to bring in drugs or money. They will grant 90 days to make the changes. This agreement is being reached with customs agencies and is progressing well. He assured that when there is a result, he will inform. He stated that there is saturation at the AICM and an important need to improve conditions in this area.

• Sonora-Arizona Relationship: Regarding the construction of a desalination plant to promote water in the region with the support of technology from Israel, the President mentioned that the project will be reviewed, and if there is no opposition in the consultation for any environmental impact, then he would see no problem in authorizing the project. He informed that $300 million pesos are about to be transferred to repave the highway from Hermosillo to Puerto Libertad by the Government of Sonora.

Economy

• Tariff on white corn: President Lopez Obrador indicated that the 50 percent tariff on white corn for export is a temporary measure and is intended to address the effects of inflation. It is intended that the domestic production of white corn will remain in Mexico to meet the demand for human consumption.

• Interest rate increase: President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, when answering a question about Banxico’s possible determination to increase the interest rate by 25 points, stated that the autonomy of the agency is respected, since they have been acting adequately to control inflation. It is