Mexican Gas Prices Double Those in US

Natural gas prices in Mexico were double what they were across the border in the US early this year, the Mexican agency that tracks energy prices said March 23.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) said the average price countrywide was US$4.62/mn Btu (pesos 81.58/Gj) in February, the most recent month for which prices are available.

By region, the highest prices were in the central, populated part of the country, including Mexico City and the industrialized states of Puebla, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi and Guanajuato. Gas prices there averaged $5.20/mn Btu.

The second highest price was in Jalisco, the state where the country’s second largest city, Guadalajara, is located. Prices there averaged $4.80/mn Btu.

Peza Gandara, head of the CRE natural gas division, said prices will now be market-driven, rather than being regulated by the department.

“They are not regulated prices,” he said. “They are simply market prices. We are looking for these prices to help transmit market information (to help gas consumers) make decisions on consumption or investment.”