President Claudia Sheinbaum inaugurated the new Salamanca Combined Cycle Power Plant, highlighting Mexico's independence in its energy and petroleum industries. At the event in Guanajuato, Sheinbaum stated that the country requires technology and administrative efficiency to achieve its energy independence over the years.
"It would be foolish to claim that Mexico does not need technological training in energy and petroleum, but no foreigner needs to be a shareholder in public companies to support us," Sheinbaum declared. The plant will operate on natural gas and will reduce more than three million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, equivalent to removing 750,000 cars from circulation.
The inauguration marks a milestone in energy infrastructure during Sheinbaum's administration. The recovery of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) as a public company has been emphasized with the recent constitutional reform, allowing the Commission to operate without restrictions imposed by previous privatizing reforms.
Energy Secretary Luz Elena González mentioned that the dismantling process of the CFE initiated in 1993 and later with the 2013 reform has been reversed. Emilia Esther Calleja Alor, general director of the CFE, highlighted the government's investments in electrical infrastructure and clean energy projects.
The governor of Guanajuato, Libia Dennise García Muñoz Ledo, emphasized that the Salamanca plant will benefit more than five million households in the Bajío region, improving energy efficiency and optimizing water consumption. A second phase of the project is planned, which will establish Guanajuato as a key hub in the country’s energy transition.
Sheinbaum emphasized the historical role of the CFE in the electrification of Mexico and its importance in the country’s energy sovereignty. She recalled that efforts have been made to rescue the CFE with reforms that return the state-owned company to its central position in the electricity sector, highlighting the struggle for sovereignty and Mexico's independence in energy terms.
