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Mexico proudly controls its energy but could find it hard to reach its climate goals

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Mexico proudly controls its energy but could find it hard to reach its climate goals
News

News

Mexico proudly controls its energy but could find it hard to reach its climate goals

2024-04-30 14:35 Last Updated At:14:50

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's taking control of its oil sector from U.S. and British companies is taught in schools and celebrated every year. The 1938 nationalization is a point of pride for millions of Mexicans including President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

The popular president hails from the Mexican oil industry’s heartland, and 16 years ago he led a fight against energy reforms that were aimed at drawing private investment to the massive state-run oil company, Pemex. This year, the front-runner in the race to replace López Obrador chose the anniversary of Mexico's oil expropriation to announce her energy proposals, which include maintaining large-scale petroleum production by Pemex.

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FILE - Members of the marine wildlife conservation organization Sea Shepherd monitor the fuel tanker Burgos, as it continues to burn a day after it erupted in flames off the coast of the port city of Boca del Rio, Mexico, Sept. 25, 2016. Mexico is committed to having 43% of the energy it generates come from non-contaminating sources by 2030. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez, File)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's taking control of its oil sector from U.S. and British companies is taught in schools and celebrated every year. The 1938 nationalization is a point of pride for millions of Mexicans including President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

FILE - Supporters of former presidential candidate Manuel Lopez Obrador attend a demonstration organized by Obrador to mark the 70th anniversary of the nationalization of the oil industry in the Zocalo of Mexico City, March 18, 2008. The sign shows Interior Minister Juan Camilo Mourino, right, and President Felipe Calderon, depicted as vultures The writing at left of the sign reads ' the oil belongs to the Mexican people'.( AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File)

FILE - Supporters of former presidential candidate Manuel Lopez Obrador attend a demonstration organized by Obrador to mark the 70th anniversary of the nationalization of the oil industry in the Zocalo of Mexico City, March 18, 2008. The sign shows Interior Minister Juan Camilo Mourino, right, and President Felipe Calderon, depicted as vultures The writing at left of the sign reads ' the oil belongs to the Mexican people'.( AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File)

FILE - Pemex security employees inspect an illegal tap into a state-owned pipeline in a cornfield in San Bartolome Hueyapan, Tepeaca, Mexico, July 11, 2017. Despite Pemex's struggles, Mexico continues to be one of the world's biggest oil producers. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File)

FILE - Pemex security employees inspect an illegal tap into a state-owned pipeline in a cornfield in San Bartolome Hueyapan, Tepeaca, Mexico, July 11, 2017. Despite Pemex's struggles, Mexico continues to be one of the world's biggest oil producers. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File)

The Olmeca oil refinery stands at the Dos Bocas port in Paraiso, Tabasco state, Mexico, Nov. 30, 2023. The 1938 nationalization of Mexico's oil sector from U.S. and British companies is a point of pride for millions of Mexicans. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

The Olmeca oil refinery stands at the Dos Bocas port in Paraiso, Tabasco state, Mexico, Nov. 30, 2023. The 1938 nationalization of Mexico's oil sector from U.S. and British companies is a point of pride for millions of Mexicans. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

FILE - Presidential candidate Xóchitl Gálvez campaigns in Irapuato, Mexico, March 1, 2024. Gálvez has said she prefers to rely on the private sector to drive renewable energy investments and wants to bring back the energy auctions that had opened the electric generation market to more private renewables companies. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File)

FILE - Presidential candidate Xóchitl Gálvez campaigns in Irapuato, Mexico, March 1, 2024. Gálvez has said she prefers to rely on the private sector to drive renewable energy investments and wants to bring back the energy auctions that had opened the electric generation market to more private renewables companies. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File)

FILE - Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, right, and Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, greet supporters at a rally in Mexico City's main square, the Zocalo, July 1, 2019. Obrador led a fight against energy reforms that were aimed at drawing private investment to the massive state-run oil company, Pemex, and in 2024, the frontrunner in the race to replace him, Sheinbaum, chose the anniversary of Mexico's oil expropriation to announce her energy proposals. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File)

FILE - Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, right, and Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, greet supporters at a rally in Mexico City's main square, the Zocalo, July 1, 2019. Obrador led a fight against energy reforms that were aimed at drawing private investment to the massive state-run oil company, Pemex, and in 2024, the frontrunner in the race to replace him, Sheinbaum, chose the anniversary of Mexico's oil expropriation to announce her energy proposals. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File)

FILE - A mural of Mexico's former President Lazaro Cardenas covers a wall alongside the words in Spanish "Pemex is not for sale," right, from the PRD political party in Mexico City, Friday, Aug. 16, 2013. Cardenas' oil expropriation was the single most popular decision by a Mexican president in the 20th century, and the nationalization remains immensely popular. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File)

FILE - A mural of Mexico's former President Lazaro Cardenas covers a wall alongside the words in Spanish "Pemex is not for sale," right, from the PRD political party in Mexico City, Friday, Aug. 16, 2013. Cardenas' oil expropriation was the single most popular decision by a Mexican president in the 20th century, and the nationalization remains immensely popular. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File)

FILE - Pemex oil workers set the drill on the Centenario deep-water drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Veracruz, Mexico, Nov. 22, 2013. The 1938 nationalization of Mexico's oil sector from U.S. and British companies is a point of pride for millions of Mexicans.(AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills, File)

FILE - Pemex oil workers set the drill on the Centenario deep-water drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Veracruz, Mexico, Nov. 22, 2013. The 1938 nationalization of Mexico's oil sector from U.S. and British companies is a point of pride for millions of Mexicans.(AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills, File)

Front-runner Claudia Sheinbaum also wants to make sure that the government-run Federal Electricity Commission, CFE, generates the majority of the power Mexico supplies to homes and businesses. Like the other two candidates to replace López Obrador, she only wants limited private energy involvement, but continuing to favor state-owned companies will make it harder for Mexico to meet its climate change commitments, experts say.

Despite Pemex's struggles, Mexico continues to be one of the world's biggest oil producers. None of the candidates are talking about reducing that. The Federal Electricity Commission has held the monopoly on electricity transmission and distribution since it was established by presidential decree in 1937.

Mexico is committed to having 43% of the energy it generates come from non-contaminating sources by 2030. Today about 22% of Mexico’s electricity production comes from clean sources, according to estimates from the Mexican Institute for Competitivity think tank, or IMCO.

The room for change in Mexico’s contribution to global warming appears to be in where the government monopoly gets its electricity and no participant in Mexico’s presidential debate Sunday discussed reducing Pemex production.

Gálvez did say she wants Mexico to produce half its energy from renewable sources within six years and that Mexico once again become known for cheap energy "thanks to private sector participation.”

Sheinbaum mentioned her climate science background and spoke vaguely of a need to reduce the emissions that cause climate change, advancing the energy transition and adapting to climate change. She also said a huge new refinery that López Obrador had built would help reduce Mexico’s gasoline imports.

Sheinbaum has pledged to continue to increase refining capacity at Pemex, hardly a recipe for a concerted move away from fossil fuels from a climate scientist-turned-politician. The 61-year-old former Mexico City mayor has also said she wants CFE to keep generating the majority of Mexico’s electricity, complicating the country's stated desire to contribute less to global warming.

López Obrador pushed laws to give CFE plants preference over private renewable and natural-gas generating plants, even though many of the state-owned plants burn dirtier fuels like fuel oil, coal or diesel. The courts blocked the changes, so last year López Obrador bought 13 power plants — most running on natural gas — from Spain’s Iberdrola for nearly $6 billion, calling it the “new nationalization,” ensuring that CFE generates the majority of Mexicans' electricity.

“It would be costly for her to move away from that official line,” said Oscar Ocampo, energy and environment coordinator for IMCO.

Opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez is the candidate for a coalition of ideologically different opposition parties. When she was a senator, she caucused with the conservative National Action Party, which had earlier pushed the energy sector reforms that forced a greater opening to the private sector.

In 2008, leftist lawmakers allied with López Obrador — the PRD's 2006 presidential candidate — took control of both chambers of congress in an attempt to prevent votes on reforms. Those reforms opened the industry to private contracting in the service sector, but Pemex kept its monopoly over exploration, pipelines and gasoline distribution.

Gálvez has said says she wants to improve Pemex’s efficiency and profit and proposed closing two money-losing refineries. Longshot candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez of the small Citizen Movement has also proposed closing two refineries.

Julia González Romero, a lawyer specializing in energy sector regulations with the law firm González Calvillo, recalled that she was taught in elementary school about the oil expropriation and said it’s understandable that the debate over public versus private in the energy sector is heated.

“It’s in the DNA of our politics to argue about how much the private part should participate in the sector,” González Romero said.

Sheinbaum wants the state-owned energy sector to expand into lithium production and geothermal electricity generation. CFE developed geothermal power generation years ago. In 2022, Mexico nationalized lithium mining and extraction, with a state-run company having exclusive rights to mine the metal used in electric car batteries and other devices.

She had said she wants an energy transition to be one of the “hallmarks” of her administration and spoken of leaving the door open to private energy companies. But Ocampo said there is “a fundamental difference in the magnitude of (the private sector’s) participation” in the candidates’ proposals.

Gálvez has said she prefers to rely on the private sector to drive renewable energy investments. The tech entrepreneur has also proposed Pemex pivot toward geothermal, but touts a proposal to make it easier for people to install solar panels on their properties across the country to access more affordable electricity.

She also wants to bring back the energy auctions that had opened the electric generation market to more private renewables companies, but which López Obrador suspended.

Climate-related policies went backwards under López Obrador, said Climate Action Tracker, which tracks countries’ pledges to limit warming.

“Mexico’s greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise – despite the brief dip caused by the COVID-19 pandemic – and are projected to continue increasing through 2030,” according to the independent scientific project.

Edgar Olvera, a 45-year-old Mexico City lawyer, said the private sector could bring more investment to exploit Mexico’s natural resources.

“But we know the money would be for the foreigners,” Olvera said. “It’s a very delicate topic, very, very delicate, because we know that the government also doesn’t do things 100% correctly.”

FILE - Members of the marine wildlife conservation organization Sea Shepherd monitor the fuel tanker Burgos, as it continues to burn a day after it erupted in flames off the coast of the port city of Boca del Rio, Mexico, Sept. 25, 2016. Mexico is committed to having 43% of the energy it generates come from non-contaminating sources by 2030. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez, File)

FILE - Members of the marine wildlife conservation organization Sea Shepherd monitor the fuel tanker Burgos, as it continues to burn a day after it erupted in flames off the coast of the port city of Boca del Rio, Mexico, Sept. 25, 2016. Mexico is committed to having 43% of the energy it generates come from non-contaminating sources by 2030. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez, File)

FILE - Supporters of former presidential candidate Manuel Lopez Obrador attend a demonstration organized by Obrador to mark the 70th anniversary of the nationalization of the oil industry in the Zocalo of Mexico City, March 18, 2008. The sign shows Interior Minister Juan Camilo Mourino, right, and President Felipe Calderon, depicted as vultures The writing at left of the sign reads ' the oil belongs to the Mexican people'.( AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File)

FILE - Supporters of former presidential candidate Manuel Lopez Obrador attend a demonstration organized by Obrador to mark the 70th anniversary of the nationalization of the oil industry in the Zocalo of Mexico City, March 18, 2008. The sign shows Interior Minister Juan Camilo Mourino, right, and President Felipe Calderon, depicted as vultures The writing at left of the sign reads ' the oil belongs to the Mexican people'.( AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File)

FILE - Pemex security employees inspect an illegal tap into a state-owned pipeline in a cornfield in San Bartolome Hueyapan, Tepeaca, Mexico, July 11, 2017. Despite Pemex's struggles, Mexico continues to be one of the world's biggest oil producers. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File)

FILE - Pemex security employees inspect an illegal tap into a state-owned pipeline in a cornfield in San Bartolome Hueyapan, Tepeaca, Mexico, July 11, 2017. Despite Pemex's struggles, Mexico continues to be one of the world's biggest oil producers. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File)

The Olmeca oil refinery stands at the Dos Bocas port in Paraiso, Tabasco state, Mexico, Nov. 30, 2023. The 1938 nationalization of Mexico's oil sector from U.S. and British companies is a point of pride for millions of Mexicans. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

The Olmeca oil refinery stands at the Dos Bocas port in Paraiso, Tabasco state, Mexico, Nov. 30, 2023. The 1938 nationalization of Mexico's oil sector from U.S. and British companies is a point of pride for millions of Mexicans. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

FILE - Presidential candidate Xóchitl Gálvez campaigns in Irapuato, Mexico, March 1, 2024. Gálvez has said she prefers to rely on the private sector to drive renewable energy investments and wants to bring back the energy auctions that had opened the electric generation market to more private renewables companies. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File)

FILE - Presidential candidate Xóchitl Gálvez campaigns in Irapuato, Mexico, March 1, 2024. Gálvez has said she prefers to rely on the private sector to drive renewable energy investments and wants to bring back the energy auctions that had opened the electric generation market to more private renewables companies. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File)

FILE - Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, right, and Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, greet supporters at a rally in Mexico City's main square, the Zocalo, July 1, 2019. Obrador led a fight against energy reforms that were aimed at drawing private investment to the massive state-run oil company, Pemex, and in 2024, the frontrunner in the race to replace him, Sheinbaum, chose the anniversary of Mexico's oil expropriation to announce her energy proposals. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File)

FILE - Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, right, and Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, greet supporters at a rally in Mexico City's main square, the Zocalo, July 1, 2019. Obrador led a fight against energy reforms that were aimed at drawing private investment to the massive state-run oil company, Pemex, and in 2024, the frontrunner in the race to replace him, Sheinbaum, chose the anniversary of Mexico's oil expropriation to announce her energy proposals. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File)

FILE - A mural of Mexico's former President Lazaro Cardenas covers a wall alongside the words in Spanish "Pemex is not for sale," right, from the PRD political party in Mexico City, Friday, Aug. 16, 2013. Cardenas' oil expropriation was the single most popular decision by a Mexican president in the 20th century, and the nationalization remains immensely popular. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File)

FILE - A mural of Mexico's former President Lazaro Cardenas covers a wall alongside the words in Spanish "Pemex is not for sale," right, from the PRD political party in Mexico City, Friday, Aug. 16, 2013. Cardenas' oil expropriation was the single most popular decision by a Mexican president in the 20th century, and the nationalization remains immensely popular. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File)

FILE - Pemex oil workers set the drill on the Centenario deep-water drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Veracruz, Mexico, Nov. 22, 2013. The 1938 nationalization of Mexico's oil sector from U.S. and British companies is a point of pride for millions of Mexicans.(AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills, File)

FILE - Pemex oil workers set the drill on the Centenario deep-water drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Veracruz, Mexico, Nov. 22, 2013. The 1938 nationalization of Mexico's oil sector from U.S. and British companies is a point of pride for millions of Mexicans.(AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills, File)

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Michael Siani hits his first homer and drives in 4 as Cardinals beat Orioles 6-3

2024-05-21 11:49 Last Updated At:11:50

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Michael Siani hit his first career home run and drove in four runs, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 on Monday night.

Siani’s three-run homer into the right field bullpen capped a four-run fourth inning that gave the Cardinals a 5-0 lead. It was the first homer in 91 career plate appearances for Siani, who spent parts of the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds before being selected off waivers by the Cardinals last September.

“Just stay confident in myself, taking it one at-bat at a time, keeping it simple, you know, trusting my approach is going to be good, especially with runners in scoring position,” Siani said. “You know tonight getting those two hits is great and builds confidence and helps the team out.”

Sianni’s homer came two pitches after taking a ball down 0-2 that the Orioles thought was strike three, but home plate umpire Laz Diaz called ball one on the Dean Kremer fastball.

“I didn’t know it was a missed call until after, but I’m not here to complain,” Kremer said. “Just didn’t execute after that. Showed him one too many fastballs and he timed up that next one.”

Sonny Gray gave up three runs, just one earned, in 5 2/3 innings as the Cardinals won for the sixth time in their last eight games. Gray (6-2) allowed three hits, walked two and struck out six.

Gray took a no-hitter into the sixth only to have it unceremoniously ended by a three-run homer by Gunnar Henderson to cut the Cardinals’ lead to 5-3. Henderson’s 417-foot blast to the left-center field bleachers scored Cedric Mullins and Jorge Mateo, each of whom reached on consecutive fielding errors by St. Louis shortstop Masyn Winn. It was Henderson’s major league-leading 16th of the season and his fourth in as many games.

JoJo Romero got the final out of the sixth after Gray surrendered hits to Ryan O’Hearn and Jordan Westburg following the homer. Gray threw 31 of his 88 pitches in the sixth.

“I felt great the whole time,” Gray said. “That’s just a long inning deep in the game. I mean, I almost doubled my pitch count one inning. I felt good. I felt great going out for the sixth. I felt great probably 20 to 25 pitches through the sixth and then like I said, the last five or so I threw I just felt like that’s just a lot of pitches.”

Romero pitched a scoreless seventh and John King and Andrew Kittredge combined for a scoreless eighth, before Ryan Helsley earned his 14th save in 15 chances.

Kremer (3-4) lasted just four innings, tying a season-low, as the Orioles lost their fourth game in their last seven. Kremer allowed five runs on six hits, walked three and struck out two.

“I just didn’t think he had his best fastball tonight, honestly,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “I know he was getting ahead of hitters early, had a tough time putting guys away, the missed call on the punch out before the homer was big.”

Siani singled home Nolan Gorman to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead in the second.

“Siani’s taking really good at-bats,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “A big homer today, the clubhouse is feeling pretty good about that now … he plays the game the right way and defensively, he’s elite.”

Winn ignited the four-run fourth with an RBI double to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games. Winn added an RBI single in the sixth to make it 6-3 Cardinals.

TRANSACTIONS

The Cardinals selected the contract of RHP Ryan Loutos and optioned RHP Chris Roycroft to Triple-A Memphis. St. Louis also designated 1B/OF Alfonso Rivas III for assignment.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: RHP Giovanny Gallegos (right shoulder impingement) is scheduled to throw another bullpen on Tuesday and RHP Keynan Middleton (right forearm flexor strain) is scheduled to appear in back-to-back games Wednesday and Thursday as his rehab progresses at Double-A Springfield.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals will send RHP Lance Lynn (1-2, 4.17 ERA) to the mound against RHP Kyle Brandish (0-0, 2.63) on Tuesday night. Lynn settled in to work five innings after allowing four first inning runs in a loss to the Angels last Wednesday. Brandish earned his first career win in his only prior start against St. Louis on May 10, 2022.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Dean Kremer throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Dean Kremer throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

Baltimore Orioles right fielder Colton Cowser catches a fly ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado in the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

Baltimore Orioles right fielder Colton Cowser catches a fly ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado in the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson, right, watches his three-run home run next to St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera, left, in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson, right, watches his three-run home run next to St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera, left, in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Gorman (16) is congratulated after scoring a run in the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Gorman (16) is congratulated after scoring a run in the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

The St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after their victory over the Baltimore Orioles in a baseball game, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

The St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after their victory over the Baltimore Orioles in a baseball game, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

St. Louis Cardinals' Michael Siani watches his three-run home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

St. Louis Cardinals' Michael Siani watches his three-run home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

St. Louis Cardinals' Michael Siani (63), right, celebrates with teammate Masyn Winn, left, after hitting a three-run home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

St. Louis Cardinals' Michael Siani (63), right, celebrates with teammate Masyn Winn, left, after hitting a three-run home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

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