Italian Ambassador to Mexico Respects Mexico’s Energy Policy

Luigi De Chiara, the Italian Ambassador to Mexico, emphasized that even though Italian companies have not yet obtained permits to start operating their renewable energy plants in the country, they will sustain their investments in Mexico.

In an interview with Factor Energetico, he pointed out that Italy respects the position of the Mexican government regarding its energy policy reforms, which seek to bolster state companies and have been said to hamper private investment in the process. "We trust in Mexico, it is a country where renewable energy can be developed, and I am sure that when this phase guided by a certain ideology is over, there will be the possibility to develop clean power again," he said.

Regarding Mexico’s treatment of Italian energy companies, De Chiara stated that although players so far have not been directly damaged by the president’s policy direction, the energy ministry had not yet released the permits to authorize the wind and solar power plants that are already ready to start working. 

The Italian representative pointed out that Mexico has the capacity to become a great energy exporter, especially for the southern states of the US, by producing energy in the northern region of the country. "Mexico could be an important macro-exporter of energy, not only to the US but to the world," he stated.

De Chiara considered the importance of making decisions based on more technical, less ideological arguments. "I think that when the ideological debate on renewable energy ends, Mexicans will realize that the country can develop both fossil fuels and renewable energies,” he said.

According to the ambassador, Italy strengthens the industrial sector in Mexico. "Industrial machinery constitutes 80 percent of our exports to Mexico, so in one way or another, we contribute to the country’s industrialization process. We have a lot of productive investments, for example, in Guanajuato we have important companies dedicated to food production and tire manufacturing,” he continued.

Furthermore, De Chiara stressed that the relationship between Mexico and Italy has remained stable and strong over the years and supported President López Obrador by saying that even though some decisions and statements could be misinterpreted, he believes that the president stands for foreign investment and his administration is doing its best to support the USMCA.