Pemex criticism: Mexico Energy Minister Georgina Kessel and Pemex boss Jesus Reyes Heroles
Pemex criticised for reform delays
Mexico's energy minister Georgina Kessel and Pemex boss Jesus Reyes Heroles defended themselves this week before lawmakers of congress' permanent committee against criticism for delays in implementing the energy reform passed last year.
The criticism relates primarily to the naming of the four so-called professional advisors to sit on Pemex's board and delays in convening the board.
The energy reform was passed by congress in late October, but was not signed into law by President Felipe Calderon until more than a month later.
Calderon had until 29 December to nominate the professional advisors, but failed to do so until 24 February, said an Energy Current report.
Pemex held the first meeting of the new board on 14 May, though it was supposed to have done so by 8 April.
"Congress has felt disdain on the part of authorities in its assumed commitments. The new board was installed with such delay that is was left out of Pemex's main decisions for this year, like those related to the new refinery or the company's investment budget," opposition PRI senator Carlos Lozano de la Torre said, according to a transcript of the session.
Senator Adolfo Toledo Infanzon (PRI) also said that Pemex's investment budget for the year could be deemed invalid given that it was not approved by the new board.
Kessel attributed the delay in convening the new board to scheduling issues, primarily her visits to Washington DC to meet with her counterpart Steven Chu on the subject of cross-border fields, as well as her trip to the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad & Tobago in April.
Kessel is president of Pemex's board.
She added that the subsequent outbreak of swine flu pushed back the first meeting even further.
Kessel highlighted the vast work called for in the transitory articles of last year's reform.
They entail establishing 10 guidelines, nine strategies and programmes, eight regulations, at least three methodologies, at least 12 rules and more than 40 statutes, as well four councils or commissions, three consultation forums, and two trust funds with their respective technical committees and rules of operation.
"It is a very deep reform, a reform of great reach, but also a reform that has a huge amount of regulations that we have to draft," Kessel said.
"There were repeated indications that we weren't aware of all the work that is pending as part of the reform, but what we are doing is moving as fast as possible precisely to benefit as soon as possible," Reyes Heroles said.
The permanent committee is active when the two chambers of congress are not in session.