Mexico stuck in neutral
The resources are there and the reforms have opened the door to investors, but shale gas can't yet compete
Shale gas was once among the most highly-touted opportunities in Mexico's energy reforms, with streams of reports predicting that shale specialists who cut their teeth in the US would make the short trip across the border and bring a shale bounty with them. The potential is indisputable. The prolific and well-known Eagle Ford shale play spans the US-Mexico border and additional shale fields stretch down Mexico's Gulf Coast in the Burgos Basin. The Energy Information Administration global shale survey ranked Mexico sixth among the world's shale-gas holders with 545 trillion cubic feet in potential resources. This is a potential bonanza, considering that one of the central aims of Mexico's ene
Also in this section
12 December 2025
The latest edition of our annual Outlook publication, titled 'The shape of energy to come: Creating unique pathways and managing shifting alliances', is available now
12 December 2025
The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans
11 December 2025
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability
10 December 2025
The economic and environmental cost of the seven-year exploration ban will be felt long after its removal






