The Mexican government deployed a coordinated strategy to strengthen its energy policy and mobilize private capital for key electricity infrastructure projects. On January 27 , President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo met at the National Palace with representatives of the Mexican Banking Association (ABM) , including executives from BBVA, Banamex, HSBC, Bank of America Mexico, MONEX, and Bx+ . During the meeting, the president asked the banks to "prepare financing schemes for projects that will be announced in the coming days ," according to sources present, noting that the initiatives encompass renewable energy generation and new electricity transmission infrastructure essential to addressing bottlenecks. The following day , January 28, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) published in the Official Gazette of the Federation the Guidelines for Mixed Development Schemes , formally enabling new partnerships with the private sector in electricity generation, associated infrastructure, and storage projects. The regulatory framework defines three award mechanisms: public bidding , restricted invitation , and direct award , each with specific technical and financial procedures.
CFE emphasizes that "the competitive bidding process gives us the opportunity to improve conditions for the State and CFE, without changing the original specifications . Under these contracts, private companies can share costs, investments, and risks , provided that the projects guarantee sustainable financial profitability and comply with the reliability, safety, accessibility, and sustainability criteria of the National Electric System."
The required economic model must include discounted cash flow analysis, internal rates of return (IRR), investment payback periods, and sensitivity analysis of variables. To approve each initiative, a Joint Development Group (GDM) will be formed, comprised of representatives from the CFE, the Ministry of Energy (SENER), and the Ministry of Finance.
This team will evaluate the technical, operational, financial, and socio-environmental feasibility of the projects. "The contracts must include clauses on legal structure, financing, rights and obligations, governance mechanisms, and dispute resolution ," the document states. In mixed investment schemes , CFE must maintain at least 54% of the common capital , guaranteeing state control.
Furthermore, project structuring costs must be covered by the agreed-upon financial arrangement and must not generate commitments outside the approved model. In line with federal priorities, projects must be integrated into the binding plans for the expansion of the electrical system and comply with regulations regarding operational reliability, technological efficiency, and social responsibility .
A maintenance plan, technological upgrades, and quarterly reports on economic and technical performance, overseen by CFE-appointed supervisors, will also be required. This dual approach—political dialogue with the banking sector and the publication of the new regulatory framework —marks a turning point in Mexican energy policy , aiming to ensure the active participation of the national financial system in the energy transition.
From the presidency, the message was clear: "The financial system must be an ally of major infrastructure and energy projects ." This strategy also comes amid a challenging economic context: slowing growth, international trade tensions, an increase in the IEPS (Special Tax on Production and Services), and the continued use of cash in the economy.
In response, the government argues that the expansion of green infrastructure can become an engine of investment and structural modernization . It's worth noting that the government has yet to launch the second call for bids for private investors, scheduled for January of this year , following a first round of awards that generated positive expectations in the renewable energy sector due to its speed and operational certainty. In that initial process, focused on clean generation and storage projects , more than 3,320 MW of renewable capacity and 1,488 MW of battery storage systems were awarded , with investments reflecting renewed international interest in the Mexican market, including participation from subsidiaries of major global groups. By integrating private capital under clear rules and demanding technical criteria, CFE's mixed contracts are positioned as a new vehicle for attracting investment and accelerating the construction of strategic assets for clean energy.