Mexico boosts number of hydrocarbons scholarships

Mexico has increased the number of scholarships awarded to master's and doctorate students in the hydrocarbons sector by 670% since 2012, investing 450mn pesos (US$24.2mn), according to the energy ministry (Sener).

Minister Pedro Joaquín Coldwell (pictured) said during a visit to the Canadian Council for the Americas in Calgary that 418 Mexican students are now enrolled on postgraduate courses in hydrocarbons-related studies, of which 154 are in Europe, 85 in the US, 19 in Canada, 11 in Australia, four in Brazil and one in New Zealand, while 144 of them are studying in Mexico.

Coldwell also said Mexico's energy reform, allowing for greater private investment in the sector, represents an opportunity for Canadian investors.

Canadian firm TransCanada's Mexican subsidiary Transportadora de Gas Natural de la Huasteca was awarded a US$297mn contract by state utility CFE last November to build the 283km Tuxpan-Tula natural gas pipeline.

And Infraestructura Marina del Golfo (IMG), a JV between TransCanada and Mexican firm IEnova, has submitted a bid to build and operate the US$3bn Sur de Texas-Tuxpan undersea natural gas pipeline, the contract for which will be awarded later this month.

Mexico is expanding its natural gas pipeline network, aiming to add 10,000km by 2018, while converting oil-fired power stations to natural gas.