Mexico to join IEA

Mexican Secretary of Energy Pedro Joaquín Coldwell presented International Energy Agency (IEA) executive director Fatih Birol with an official letter declaring Mexico’s interest in becoming an IEA member.

Image of Birol, Coldwell. From IEA, Benjamin Renout.

“I am delighted that Mexico, a G20 member and significant energy producer and consumer, has decided to take this important step,” Birol said during a press conference with Secretary Joaquín Coldwell at IEA headquarters. “This presents an excellent opportunity for the IEA to strengthen its ties with Mexico, and opens the door to greater engagement across Latin America. It is a key step towards our objective of building a truly global international energy organization.”

“The IEA offers a forum to develop joint answers and global co-operation schemes to guarantee energy security, promote economic development and foster environmental sustainability worldwide,” said Coldwell.

Coldwell is in Paris this week to take part in the 2015 IEA Ministerial meeting. The two-day meeting brings together the 29 IEA member countries as well as partner countries with which the IEA works closely, including Brazil, Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Morocco, South Africa and Thailand.

Mexico is the second-largest economy in Latin America and, with more than 112 million people, the third-most-populous member country in the OECD. Mexico is also the third-largest oil producer in the OECD and an importer of refined petroleum products.

“Mexico has made remarkable progress in transforming its energy sector into a market-oriented one that is based on the principles reflected in the IEA shared goals,” Birol said. “The scope and ambition of Mexico’s energy reform efforts are truly impressive, extending across upstream and downstream oil and gas, to a comprehensive reform of the electricity sector. There is every reason to expect that this successful process will continue and be reinforced and accelerated by closer ties with the IEA.”

Once the IEA Governing Board has approved the formal request, the IEA will work with Mexico on the steps required to meet the conditions for IEA membership.