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

lation and the state and federal governments to promote development. The benefits of the mega-projects in terms of employment, investment and tourism were mentioned. The president was thanked for the social support programs and the implementation of internet in the state. The creation of a low-cost regional airline is also being considered. Regarding security, it was reported that crime is decreasing in Chiapas. The President addressed questions regarding the conflict in the Zapatista communities and the fishing industry. The existence of an armed conflict was denied, and opposition groups were mentioned as sources of disinformation. Finally, the president assured that he will not intervene in the upcoming elections in Chiapas and stressed the importance of finding good candidates for the general welfare.

International

• Latin American Tour: At the moment he has only defined to visit Chile on September 11, and he does not know if he will visit another country since he has to be back in Mexico on September 13 for the Day of the Children Heroes.

Infrastructure

• Inter-Oceanic Corridor: Regarding a reporter’s complaint that the salary increases were not contemplated in the framework contracts of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit and that this has prevented this increase from being granted to the workers that make up the National Bipartisan Association of Cleaning Companies, the President requested that the issue be reviewed and addressed.

• Southeastern Gas Pipeline: The reporter asked about the progress of the gas pipeline project of Transportadora Gas Natural de la Huasteca, a subsidiary of TC Energy, and the benefits it will bring to Veracruz. The president answered that an agreement has already been signed between Transcanada and the Federal Electricity Commission to transport gas by sea from Tuxpan to Coatzacoalcos in a first stage, and then from Coatzacoalcos to Dos Bocas, and from there to the gas pipeline that connects Dos Bocas with Tabasco and Yucatan. An investment of 5 billion dollars was mentioned for this project. In addition, it was reported that the gas pipeline from Dos Bocas to Reforma, in Chiapas, has already been completed.

• Logging and water concessions: The President indicated that he recently signed a decree to declare 16,000 hectares of Fonatur’s property in tourist zones as a natural protected area. Regarding water reserves, the President pointed out that permits are no longer given out “left and right” due to influence and corruption as was done in the past.

Today the aquifers are taken care of and no new permits are granted for water extraction where these reserves are depleted; an example of this is the Mexicali brewery, Constellation Brands, which had a permit granted by the last administration,

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

which was cancelled through public consultation. Today this brewery is being built where there is water, in the State of Veracruz. Likewise, no permit for energy exploitation has been granted for the use of fracking. There are projects such as the construction of pipelines in Sonora, Sinaloa, Nuevo Leon, Jalisco, Tabasco, and Campeche so that people have access to drinking water.

• Energy Sector: The President of Mexico was questioned about the designation of natural gas as clean energy. The President acknowledged that there is a difference between what is desirable (eliminating fossil fuels) and what is possible, and that the transition to clean energy will take time and technological development. Mexico is making progress in clean energy, including the modernization of abandoned hydroelectric plants with an investment of US$1.2 billion. Previously, the country had 38% of energy production, but this has now increased to 55%. The agreement with Iberdrola to buy 13 of its plants was highlighted, with the goal of leaving the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) with 60% of energy generation by the end of the government. The President considers it important for the CFE to be the majority company to avoid shortages and price abuses. It was mentioned that the OXXO chain received subsidies and did not pay the real cost of its energy consumption, which has generated criticism from the Reforma newspaper, whose owner is pointed out as one of the newspaper’s patrons.

• Electric energy: In relation to the energy reform, the President singled out the legislators who approved this reform. He mentioned the owner of the OXXO chain who decided to become a partner with Iberdrola, but he said that they should intervene to support the CFE even if this means going against the Supreme Court of Justice, where several appeals have been filed due to different factors, including the self-supply. Before, there was a 38% capacity, today the CFE has 55% and will be left with 60 or 65% so that the price of electricity does not increase. Likewise, he assured that there is no need to fear for the lack of electricity due to the high temperatures, since there are reserves.

Health

• Fentalino: The President made reference to the US Attorney’s conference on fentanyl and chemical precursors, in which he spoke of more than 100,000 deaths in 2022 due to fentanyl in the United States, mostly young people between 18 and 29 years old, which he described as regrettable and for which he will help the US Government so that this drug does not arrive, since it is very harmful and addictive. He mentioned that fortunately Mexico does not have this problem, even though there are certain places that, for some reasons such as their proximity to the border, have a high level of consumption of this drug. He mentioned Guanajuato as a red focus in this issue, particularly in the industrial corridor where the maquila industry is located and there are low salaries for workers, as well as the abandonment of families, lack of support, among other factors.