Deputies Set Up an Electric Commission to Discuss Reform

Deputies from Congress have set up an Electric Commission aimed to analyze President López Obrador’s electric reform.

The electric reform, which has already been sent to Congress, has flared up controversies and public debate. As reported by MBN, the reform aims to grant state company CFE with 56 percent of the market, coupled with an exclusive right for the state to control and exploit lithium reserves. As dictated by the Mexican Constitution, the reform must go through both chambers of Congress and for that intention, an Electric Commission (Comisión de Energía) has been set up at the lower chamber to discuss its pros and cons.

President Deputy Manuel Rodríguez González from MORENA, has explained the commission’s objective is to “help, from the legislative sphere, achieve energy security and sovereignty in a sustainable way.” 

Furthermore, he highlighted the installed organ’s nature: pluralistic, democratic, gender parity, with the participation from reelected officials. The commission’s activities will range from opinions, reports, a gloss of the Third Government Report on Energy, opinions on the draft of Expenditure Budget of the Federation, as well as the preparation of the Work Plan of the commission. All in all, the commission will analyze the impact of the reform’s intention to amend articles 25, 27, and 28 of the constitution in energy matters.

The presidential initiative “demands prudence and tolerance from us; the debate must be passionate, of course it will, since it will address a sector such as electricity, which will play an increasingly important role in supplying energy in the world,” said Deputy Rodríguez.  

Moreover, on Oct. 26, the General Director of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) is expected to appear at the plenary session in San Lázaro. The next day followed, a day Oct. 27 General Director of PEMEX, Octavio Romero Oropeza will appear and on Oct. 13 marks the day of the first ordinary session.

On their part, deputies from across the political spectrum have taken to social media and other outlets to express their support or condemnation of the reform. Raquel Bonilla from MORENA said “the energy sector is transcendental in national politics and in the defense of the sovereignty of Mexicans. Mexico faces the challenge of reaching the generation of renewable energy.” While Justino Arriaga, from PAN, said “we will propose solid ideas that help to have a solid, efficient, sustainable energy system, with better conditions and prices. We are not going to give a single vote to proposals that lead to a setback in freedoms.”