CFE Invested US$8 Billion in Yucatan

Manuel Bartlett, Director General, CFE, said the state-owned electric utility has invested over MX$151 billion (US$8.02 billion) during the López Obrador administration to improve the energy supply in Yucatan. This created 11,700 direct and 16,800 indirect jobs, the director added.

Bartlett explained that Mexico’s economy developed asymmetrically, as the southeast was historically abandoned. However, the government’s efforts to boost energy infrastructure in the Yucatan peninsula represent a change that will bring balance to the country. Additionally, he stated that CFE has joined the construction of the Mayan Train. “The construction of electrical infrastructure for this project is equivalent to the installation of an electrical system similar to the one for Merida,” he said. 

CFE oversees the construction of two combined cycle power plants in Merida and Valladolid, which account for a share investment of MX$25.901 billion (US$1.3 billion). The plants are expected to begin operating in the summer of 2024 and will have a 499MW and 1,020MW capacity, respectively. Projects to import natural gas from Texas to the south of the country are also under development to ensure a steady supply of gas.  

With these plants, Yucatan’s power production capacity will reach 4,521MW, thereby exceeding the projected maximum demand of the state, estimated to be 2,642MW, by 70%.

CFE is working on 53 infrastructure works for the electrified section of the Mayan Train, requiring an investment of MX$6.587 billion (US$349.9 million). These include the construction of seven substations to connect the train with the grid, regulate energy voltages and provide traction force. Three of these substations will be located between Merida and Cancun and the remaining four between Cancun and Chetumal. According to CFE, these works will generate 2,100 direct and 1,422 indirect jobs. Moreover, CFE has developed 556km of medium-voltage lines to provide power to 170 services required for the operation of the train. These works feature an investment of MX$1.587 billion (US$84.2 million) and will generate around 2,000 direct and 6,700 indirect jobs. 

Other projects by CFE in Yucatan include an MX$193 million (US$10.2 million) investment for the construction of the Nachi Cocom solar power plant in Merida and another MX$942 million (US$49.9 million) investment toward the connection of Holbox Island to the National Electricity System through a 10.5km submarine cable and the replacement of 6.9km of submarine cable that links Isla Mujeres to Cancun.