End users and industrial businesses are sometimes challenged by the lack of pipeline infrastructure that shuts them out of natural gas supplies in Mexico. This is an area for potential growth as either Mexican or foreign investors can seek out opportunities to build out this needed infrastructure.

Midstream Infrastructure in Mexico

Mexico has about 5,500 miles of pipelines dedicated to natural gas, compared to Texas which has about 58,000 in natural gas pipelines. Because of the cost savings associated with transporting natural gas via pipeline, instead of via ground transport, the Mexican government has an incentive to consider the expansion of its energy infrastructure. Private firms can invest in pipeline development and must obtain permits to construct and operate the pipelines through CRE.

While building out pipeline infrastructure might cost time and a high amount of financial investments, the opposite is true for projects involving storage. Small to medium private companies can invest in storage by obtaining permits from ASEA, National Agency for Safety, Energy and Environment of Mexico, and CRE, Mexico’s Energy Regulatory Commission.

Infrastructure Gaps Exist in Storage

Currently, Mexico has not developed a strategy to address natural gas storage infrastructure gaps. Today’s LNG storage capacity is limited and expensive. In March 2018, Mexico’s storage policy was updated to require CENAGAS to have 45 Bcf of natural gas storage in six years. Private sector actors can potentially fill the storage gap so that Mexico can better manage natural gas price fluctuations.

Mirage Energy plans to invest about $1 billion USD in developing Mexico’s first underground natural gas storage. The Progreso Pipeline originating in Texas as well as the Arguelles Pipeline in Mexico will be the conduits to supply and extract natural gas from the network. This bidirectional capability means that both suppliers and end users can connect and benefit from the storage system.

Mirage Energy will complete this project on the Brasil field, located on the northern border of Mexico. In about a decade, the facility will have the capacity to store 786 Bcf of natural gas for both commercial and state users.