An energy reform without transparency or direction: Riquelme

Senator Miguel Ángel Riquelme Solís launched a harsh criticism against the secondary laws of the energy reform promoted by Morena, stating that it reflects the institutional crisis that has weakened decision-making in Mexico. "The institutional crisis in Mexico during the last six years has weakened decision-making based on the public interest. Among the main causes are the predominance of occurrences over planned policies, the tendency to privilege politics over reason and technique, as well as the concentration of power," he warned.

Riquelme defended the 2013 reform, promoted by the PRI, highlighting its strategic vision. "The 2013 energy reform, promoted by us PRI members, was designed with a vision for the future. Ensuring the nation's ownership of resources, promoting strategic investments and guaranteeing a balance between the public and private sectors," he said.

The senator criticized the new reform by pointing out that Morena has decided to maintain the opening to private capital, but eliminating the oversight mechanisms. "And what is Morena doing today with the Rule of Law? With all its allies, they maintain the opening to private capital, but they eliminate transparency and institutional counterweights. They are once again seeking to hand over the people's resources to the discretion of whoever governs today in order to continue buying wills and consciences," he denounced.

He recalled that a decade ago the PRI was accused of being a "traitor" for opening the energy sector to private investment, but that now the government is applying the same model, only without controls. "Ten years ago they accused us of being traitors. Meanwhile today the government is presenting the same reform, but now as a strategic alliance with a vision for the future. What can we call its reform? So much for Mexico, part two, or welfare neoliberalism?" he quipped.

Riquelme also pointed out the contradictions in the government's discourse on the energy sector. "They accused us of being traitors for promoting private sector participation. But, curiously, their proposal also does so, only without transparency or institutional counterweights," he said.

He also criticized the problems of the Dos Bocas refinery, the federal government's flagship project. "The Dos Bocas refinery, which was sold to us as the solution to energy sovereignty, still does not produce a single barrel of gasoline. The high salinity and water in the crude have damaged the infrastructure, the expensive desalination plants do not work and the cost overruns have pushed the project to more than 20 billion dollars. Who then are the real traitors?" he questioned.

The senator also warned about the risks of the new provisions for the electricity sector and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE). "This reform seeks to artificially strengthen the CFE, forcing it to maintain at least 54% of electricity generation, without considering financial viability or the necessary investment in infrastructure," he explained.

He also criticized the elimination of the Energy Regulatory Commission to create a new body under government control. "At the height of cynicism, they are eliminating public tenders and favoring discretionary allocations; they are eliminating autonomy in energy planning, allowing everything to be left to the discretion of the Energy Secretariat," he warned.

Finally, he said that this reform is nothing more than a concentration of power disguised as an energy strategy. "Mexico deserves more than empty speeches and false promises. They are no longer campaigning, they must learn to govern with responsibility and seriousness," he said.