Talos disappointed after Pemex named Zama operator
US-based Talos Energy said July 5 it was "very disappointed" that the Mexican government designated Pemex as the operator of the Zama offshore field.
A letter from the Ministry of Energy, posted on Twitter by North America and Mexico energy consultant Gonzalo Monroy, showed the government awarded control of the Zama oil field to state-owned Petroleos Mexicanos, known commonly as Pemex.
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Talos Energy, in a consortium with UK’s Premier Oil and German energy company Wintershall, announced the 700mn barrel discovery at Zama in 2017, though some of the acreage overlaps with Pemex assets.
Propping up Pemex has been a favoured project for Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Talos, meanwhile, said it was the first private company to be named operator in the country.
After years of investments not only in Zama but also in the broader Mexican economy, the company said it was “very disappointed” with the “sudden decision” to hand control over operations at Zama to Pemex.
“Talos remains committed to maximising value for its shareholders from its Zama asset and will explore all legal and strategic options to do so,” it said.