Rethinking Nuclear Energy for Mexico’s Electric Future

During the Centennial Celebration of Chemical Engineering in Mexico: A Legacy of Teaching, Innovation, and Excellence, former UNAM President Francisco Barnés de Castro pointed out that more than half of the energy consumed in Mexico is used for oil and gas production, processing, and electricity generation.

Barnés de Castro, who also served as director of UNAM’s School of Chemistry, emphasized that these sectors present the most significant opportunities to reduce energy consumption and implement strategies for transitioning to cleaner sources.

“If we’re going to decarbonize the country, the biggest opportunities lie with Petróleos Mexicanos and in ending the use of fuel oil for power generation,” he said. He added that phasing out natural gas in electricity production must be carefully planned; otherwise, Mexico risks becoming increasingly dependent on imported gas.

He also underscored the importance of eliminating the stigma surrounding nuclear energy in Mexico and promoting nuclear power as a national strategy to replace natural gas in the electricity sector. Electricity demand, he noted, will continue to rise—not only due to organic growth but also as transportation shifts from gasoline to electric power.