The United Mexican States, commonly known as Mexico is located in the southern part of the North American continent. In the north it has a common boundary with the United Sates, in the south with Guatemala and Belize, to the east lies the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean sea, and to the west the Pacific Ocean. Its extreme latitudes are 32°43'N in the north and 14°33'N in the south. Its extreme longitudes are 86°46' West of Greenwich in the east and 117°08' West of Greenwich in the west. The total surface of Mexico is 1,964,400 km2.
The United Mexican States are a federation whose government is representative, democratic and republican based on a presidential system according to the 1917 Constitution. The constitution establishes three levels of government: the federal union, the state governments and the municipal governments. All officials at the three levels are elected by voters through first-past-the-post plurality, proportional representation or are appointed by other elected officials.
The federal government is constituted by the Powers of the Union, the three separate branches of government:
Legislative: the bicameral Congress of the Union, composed of a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies, which makes federal law, declares war, imposes taxes, approves the national budget and international treaties, and ratifies diplomatic appointments.
Executive: the President of the United Mexican States, who is the head of state and government, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Mexican military forces. The President also appoints the Cabinet and other officers. The President is responsible for executing and enforcing the law, and has the authority of vetoing bills.
Judiciary: The Supreme Court of Justice, comprised by eleven judges appointed by the President with Senate approval, who interpret laws and judge cases of federal competency. Other institutions of the judiciary are the Electoral Tribunal, collegiate, unitary and district tribunals, and the Council of the Federal Judiciary.
Two main features have to be taken into account regarding the climate of Mexico, in the first place the existence of two mountain ranges, one following the Pacific coast and the other the Gulf of Mexico coast with a high plateau between the two ranges and, in the second place, the fact that the country is divided into two by the Tropic of Cancer. In a very broad sense, the climate south of the Tropic of Cancer is warm with an average temperature around 22°C, when the altitude above sea level is below 1,000 m, and the climate is temperate with an average temperature around 15°C, above 1,000 m where the altitude prevails, with a broad daily oscillation. North of the Tropic of Cancer the climate is warm during the summer and cold during the winter, with occasional snowfalls. The four traditional seasons are only felt in some parts in the north of the country. The rest divides the year in two periods: the rainy season, that goes from April to September and the dry season embracing the rest of the year.
The Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant is located in the coast of the Gulf of Mexico at latitude of 19°43'30" North and a longitude of 96°23'15" West. The climate is warm and humid, with rains during the summer and with little precipitation during winter. The annual average humidity is 80%, during the year the temperature oscillates between a minimum of 8°C and a maximum of 39°C. The prevailing winds, especially during summer, blow from the Northeast; during winter the site is affected by winds coming from the North with velocities between 70 and 90 km. per hour. The seawater, which is used as cooling water, has an average annual temperature of 27.5°C, with a maximum during summer of 34°C and a minimum in winter of 21°C.
In 2007, the Mexican population reached almost 105.3 millions inhabitants (see Table 1) and it was estimated to grow with 1.6 million in absolute terms in 2005. The population growth rate in 2007 was 1.4 per cent and the population density 53.6 inhabitants per square kilometer.
| TABLE 1: POPULATION INFORMATION | Average Annual Growth Rate (%) | ||||||
| 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2007* | 2000 - 2007 | |
| Population (Millions) | 50.6 | 67.6 | 83.2 | 97.7 | 103.9 | 105.3 | 0.98 |
| Population Density (Inhabitants/km2) | 25.8 | 34.5 | 42.5 | 49.7 | 52.9 | 53.6 | 0.98 |
| Urban Population as % of Total | 59 | 66.3 | 72.5 | 74.7 | 76 | 77 | 0.99 |
| Area (1000 km2) | 1964.4 | ||||||
| *Latest Available Data | |||||||
| Source: INEGI AND BANK OF MEXICO | |||||||
1.1.4. Economic Data
In Mexico, the services sector is the greatest component of the GDP, followed by the industrial sector and the agricultural last. Of the work force, it is estimated that 18% is employed in agriculture, 24% in industry and 58% in the services sector.
The manufacturing industry, despite its importance in national production, has faced a critical situation during the last years due to the increase of competitors, intensified because it competes against countries with different work and environmental regulations and government support.
In 2007, Mexico had the 15th place among 182 nations, measured by the size of its Gross Domestic Product, benefited by the high oil prices and for being the place where the world’s third richest man lives.
According to the International Monetary Fund, Mexico was the world’s 15th economy, with a GDP of 840 thousand 709 million dollars. The place reflects a loss of position compared to 2006, when it was in place number 14, with 811 thousand 282 million dollars.
This data shows that the Mexican economy has achieved to increase the value of its goods and services produced in a year, only at a lower rate than other nations, which explains the lower place.
| TABLE 2: GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT | Average Annual Growth Rate (%) | ||||||
| 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2007** | 2000 - 2007 | |
| GDP (Millions of Current US$) | 35542 | 194357 | 262710 | 581426 | 846990 | 1022820 | 10.85 |
| GDP (Millions of Constant 2000 US$) | 180954 | 345563 | 413325 | 581426 | 635322 | 846461 | 6.51 |
| GDP Per Capita (PPP* US$/Capita) | 1049 | 4292 | 4711 | 8857 | 11113 | 14495 | 9.09 |
| GDP Per Capita (Current US$/Capita) | 703 | 2876 | 3157 | 5935 | 7447 | 9713 | 9.09 |
| * PPP: Purchasing Power Parity | |||||||
| ** Latest Available Data | |||||||
| Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database. | |||||||
In 2008, Mexico was the seventh-largest oil producer in the world, and the third-largest in the Western Hemisphere. State-owned Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) holds a monopoly on oil production in the country and is one of the largest oil companies in the world. However, oil production in the country has begun to decrease, as production at the giant Cantarell field declines. The oil sector is a crucial component of Mexico’s economy: while its relative importance to the general Mexican economy has declined, the oil sector still generates over 15 percent of the country’s export earnings. More importantly, the government relies upon earnings from the oil industry (including taxes and direct payments from Pemex) for about 40 percent of total government revenues. Therefore, any decline in production at Pemex has a direct effect upon the country’s overall fiscal balance.
From 1979 to 2007, Mexico produced most of its oil from the supergiant Cantarell Field, which used to be the second-biggest oil field in the world by production. Because of falling production, in 1997 Pemex started a massive nitrogen injection project to maintain oil flow, which now consumes half the nitrogen produced in the world. As a result of nitrogen injection, production at Cantarell rose from 1.1 million barrels per day (170×103 m3/d) in 1996 to a peak of 2.1 million barrels per day (330×103 m3/d) in 2004. However, during 2006 Cantarell's output fell 25% from 2.0 million barrels per day (320×103 m3/d) in January to 1.5 million barrels per day (240×103 m3/d) in December, with the decline continuing through 2007. In mid-2008, Pemex announced that it would try to end the year with Cantarell producing at least 1.0 million barrels per day (160×103 m3/d). However, in January 2008, Pemex said that the oil production rate at Cantarell had fallen to 811,000 barrels per day (129,000 m3/d) by December 2008, a decline of 36 percent from a year earlier. This resulted in a decline of total Mexican oil production declining by 9.2 percent from 3.1 million barrels per day (490×103 m3/d) in 2007 to 2.8 million barrels per day (450×103 m3/d) in 2008, the lowest rate of oil production since 1995.
As for its other fields, 40% of Mexico's remaining reserves are in the Chicontepec Field, which was founded in 1926. The field has remained undeveloped because the oil is trapped in impermeable rock, requiring advanced technology and very large numbers of oil wells to extract it. The remainders of Mexico’s fields are smaller, more expensive to develop, and contain heavy oil trades at a significant discount to light and medium oil, which is easier to refine.
The energy sector in Mexico has certain limitations in terms of private participation and foreign companies are allowed to operate in the country only through specific service contracts. As required by the Constitution, the electricity sector is federally owned, with the Federal Electricity Commission (Comisión Federal de Electricidad or CFE) essentially controlling the whole sector. Attempts to reform the sector have traditionally faced strong political and social resistance in Mexico, where subsidies for residential consumers absorb substantial fiscal resources.
The electricity sector in Mexico relies heavily on thermal sources (75% of total installed capacity), followed by hydropower generation (19%). Although exploitation of solar, wind, and biomass resources has a large potential, geothermal energy is the only renewable source (excluding hydropower) with a significant contribution to the energy mix (2% of total generation capacity). Expansion plans for the period 2006-2015 estimate the addition of some 14.8 GW of new generation capacity by the public sector, with a predominance of combined cycles.
| TABLE 3: ESTIMATED AVAILABLE ENERGY RESOURCES | |||||
| Fossil Fuels | Nuclear | Renewables | |||
| Solid | Liquid | Gas | Uranium | Hydro | |
| Total Amount in Specific Units* | 1211 | 1814 | 392.2 | 1275 | 52.41 |
| Total Amount in Exajoules [EJ] | 50.7 | 75.9 | 15.05 | 0.37 | 0.18 |
| *Solid, Liquid: Million Tons | |||||
| Gas: m3 | |||||
| Uranium: Metric Tons | |||||
| Hydro, Renewable: TW | |||||
| (*) Source: 20th WEC Survey of Energy Resourses, 2004 and Uranium 2005: Resourses, Production and Demand ("Red Book") |
| Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database. |
| (1) Coal including Lignite: proved recoverable reserves, the tonnage within the proved amount in place that can be recovered in the future under present and expected local economic conditions with existing available technology |
| (2) Crude oil and natural gas liquid (Oil Shale, Natural Bitumen and Extra-Heavy Oil are not includes): proved recoverable reserves, the quantity within the proved amount in place that can be recovered in the future under present and expected local economy |
| (3) Natural gas: proved recoverable reserves, the volume within the proved amount in place that can be recovered in the future present and expected local economic conditions with exiting available technology. |
| (4) Reasonably Assured Resources (RAR) under <UDS 130kgU |
| (5) Hydropower: technically exploitable capability, the amount of the gross theoretical capability that can be exploited within the limits of current technology. |
| Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database. |
The generation sector was opened to private participation in 1992. However, the Comisión Federal de la Electricidad (CFE), the state-owned utility, is still the dominant player in the generation sector, with two-thirds of installed capacity. As of the end of 2008, private generators held about 23 GW of generation capacity, mostly consisting of combined-cycle, gas-fired turbines (CCGFT). Private generators have to sell all their output to CFE since they are not allowed to sell directly to users. There is indeed a commercialization monopoly controlled by CFE.
Between the years 1997 to 2009, CRE has awarded 22 permits for Independent Power Producers (IPP), for a total of 13 GW. Total private generation permits awarded by CRE as of September 2009 are summarized in the table below:
| Modality | Number of permits | Total capacity (MW) | Percentage of total national capacity (%) |
| Autogeneration | 589 | 6,102 | 6% |
| Cogeneration | 57 | 3,255 | 4.5% |
| Independent Power Production (IPP) | 22 | 13,250 | 19.5% |
| Small Generation | 19 | 3 | 0% |
Consumption of electricity in 2008 was 184 TWh, which corresponds to 1,655 kWh per capita. Consumption share by sector was as follows:
· Residential: 26%
· Industrial: 59% (38% for mid-sized industry and 21% for large industry)
· Commercial: 7%
· Agriculture: 4%
· Services: 4%
| TABLE 4: ENERGY STATISTICS | Average Annual Growth Rate (%) | ||||||
| ENERGY CONSUMPTION** | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2007 | 2000 - 2007 |
| TOTAL | 1.58 | 3.76 | 4.92 | 8.92 | 14.27 | 15.12 | 9.93 |
| - Solids | 0.17 | 0.23 | 0.26 | 0.40 | 0.22 | 0.25 | -5.36 |
| - Liquids | 0.99 | 2.60 | 3.46 | 4.44 | 7.76 | 7.03 | 8.34 |
| - Gases | 0.42 | 0.93 | 0.97 | 1.64 | 1.89 | 2.12 | 4.20 |
| - Nuclear | - | - | - | 2.16 | 3.80 | 4.71 | 16.87 |
| - Hydro | - | - | 0.23 | 0.28 | 0.61 | 1.01 | 37.11 |
| - Other Renewables | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| ENERGY PRODUCTION | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2007 | 2000 - 2007 |
| TOTAL | 1.74 | 5.89 | 7.77 | 10.20 | 16.75 | 18.37 | 11.44 |
| - Solids*** | 0.16 | 0.19 | 0.25 | 0.34 | 0.94 | 0.94 | 25.21 |
| - Liquids | 0.98 | 4.48 | 6.26 | 7.86 | 8.75 | 8.95 | 1.98 |
| - Gases | 0.45 | 1.04 | 0.96 | 1.55 | 2.39 | 3.45 | 17.51 |
| - Nuclear | - | - | - | 2.28 | 3.00 | 2.89 | 3.82 |
| - Hydro | - | - | 4.00 | 9.06 | 7.46 | 7.25 | -2.85 |
| - Other Renewables | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| NET IMPORT (IMP - EXP) | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2007 | 2000 - 2007 |
| TOTAL | -0.07 | -1.93 | -2.74 | -3.05 | -223.89 | -167.78 | 771.57 |
| * Latest Available Data | |||||||
| ** Energy Consumption = Primary Energy Consumption + Net Import (Import - Export) of Secondary Energy | |||||||
| *** Solid Fuels Include Coal and Ligite | |||||||
| Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database | |||||||
The Ministry of Energy (SENER) determines Mexico's energy policy within the current national framework with the purpose to ensure a competitive, high quality, affordable, reliable and environmentally sound energy supply to fuel economic growth.
This responsibility entails triggering wide-spread access to affordable energy services, as well as fostering industry leaders, both public and private firms, at the forefront of technology innovation.
SENER advocates energy efficiency through a substantial increase in international funds for research, development, diffusion and deployment of green appliances. It promotes the use of alternative sources of energy to deepen security of supply.
Diversification has been promoted especially in the electricity sector, with the inclusion of geothermal energy, nuclear energy, some solar energy in rural areas isolated from the electrical grid and recently with the addition of some wind energy.
The concept of integrating the energy markets of Mexico, the United States, and Canada is gaining popularity. Numerous pipelines and transmission lines already connect the United States and Canada, though few span the U.S.-Mexico border. Companies are building power plants in northern Mexico to generate electricity to satisfy rapid demand growth from industrial and residential users. Given Mexico's less burdensome environmental regulations relative to those of California, it is possible that more power plants will be planned for northern Mexico to help satisfy the energy needs of both northern Mexico and southern California. While greater integration of the United States and Mexico is progressing, Mexico should not be seen as a solution to future supply shortfalls of electricity in U.S. markets, such as what happened in California in 2001, certainly not for the short- to mid-term.
Mexico is a net energy exporter; the difference between its energy production and consumption is mainly crude oil exports. Energy consumption in 2010 is estimated to increase to about 9.0 Quads at an average rate of increase of 2.8% per year.
The Federal Electricity Commission is a Mexican government that generates, transmits, distributes and sells electricity to more than 27.1 million customers, representing nearly 80 million people annually and incorporates more than a million new customers, the infrastructure for generating electric power is composed of 177 power stations with an installed capacity of 50.373 megawatts (MW).
The 22.81% of installed capacity corresponds to 21 stations built with private capital by Independent Power Producers (PIE), In the CFE electricity is produced using different technologies and different primary energy sources. It has power plants, hydroelectric dams, coal plants, geothermal, wind power and nuclear.
To conduct electricity from generating plants to the home of each customer, the CFE has over 738 thousand kilometers of transmission lines and distribution.
The power supply comes to about 137 thousand seats (133.345 rural and urban 3.356) and 96.84% of the population uses electricity, in the last ten years have 42 thousand solar modules installed in small communities far from large population centers. This technology is widely applied in the future for those communities that still lack electricity.
While the household sector comprises 88.15% of the customers, their sales represent 26.56% of total retail sales. A reverse situation occurs in the industrial sector, where less than 1% of customers represent more than half of sales.
The CFE is also the federal government entity responsible for planning the national electricity system, which is reflected in the Program of Works and Electricity Sector Investment (POISE), which describes the evolution of the electricity market and the expansion of the generation and transmission capacity to meet demand over the next ten years, and is updated annually.
The company commitment is to provide excellent services, ensuring a high quality in all its processes, the level of the best electric companies in the world.
CFE is a public agency with legal personality and own patrimony
Energy policy and, specifically, electricity industry policy, is the responsibility of the Ministry of Energy. Policy for the electricity industry is published in a document called "Electricity sector outlook", a 10 year programme revised annually that incorporates analyses of present electricity demand and supply, the projected evolution of national and regional demand, the proposed expansion plan for generation, transmission and distribution capacity and the estimation of required investments. The elaboration of this programme is coordinated by the Ministry of Energy and done with the help of a multidisciplinary group formed by the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), the central power and light company (LFC), the Mexican petroleum company (PEMEX), the energy regulatory commission (CRE), the Electricity Research Institute (IIE) and the National Commission for Energy efficiency and savings (CONAE).
The external electricity trade is carried out through nine interconnections between the United States and Mexico and one interconnection with Belize. These connections have primarily been used to import and export electricity during emergencies. In 2007, Mexico exported 1.3 TWh of electricity from the United States, while importing 0.6 TWh.
Companies have built power plants near the United States - Mexico border with the aim of exporting generation to the United States. There are also plans to connect Mexico with Guatemala and Belize as part of the Central American Interconnection System. The 400 kV interconnection line Mexico - Guatemala was commissioned in April 2009 and has an estimated transmission capacity of 200 MW from Mexico to Guatemala and 70 MW in the opposite direction.
CFE is not a part of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, though its transmission system in northern Baja California is part of the Western Electricity Coordinating Council, and it also has a few other interconnections across the border with the United States.
Most of the future generation capacity is expected to be based on gas fired, combined cycle type plants due to their cleaner emissions, lower investment costs, shorter construction periods and higher thermal efficiency compared to other conventional fossil fuelled plants.
Installed electricity capacity in 2008 was 58 GW. Of the installed capacity, 75.3% is thermal, 19% hydro, 2.4% nuclear (Mexico has a single nuclear power plant, the 1,400 MW Laguna Verde nuclear reactor in Veracruz, which is operated by CFE (Comisión Federal de Electricidad) and 3.3% renewable other than hydro. The general trend in thermal generation is a decline in petroleum-based fuels and a growth in natural gas and coal. Since Mexico is a net importer of natural gas, higher levels of natural gas consumption (i.e. for power generation) will likely depend upon higher imports from either the United States of via liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Gross generation was 234 TWh that same year (not including cogeneration and autogeneration), with 79.2% coming from conventional thermal sources, 16.6% from hydroelectricity, 4.2% from nuclear power and 3% from geothermal sources.
The expansion program contemplated by SENER for the period 2008-2017 includes the addition of 14,794 MW by the public service.
| TABLE 5: ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION & CAPACITY | Average Annual Growth Rate (%) | ||||||
| Capacity of Electrical Plants [GWe] | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2007 | 2000 - 2007 |
| TOTAL | 7.32 | 16.99 | 28.48 | 40.98 | 54.10 | 57.19 | 5.65 |
| - Thermal | 3.98 | 10.77 | 19.23 | 29.15 | 41.32 | 43.68 | 7.13 |
| - Hydro | 3.33 | 6.06 | 7.88 | 9.62 | 10.26 | 10.85 | 1.82 |
| - Nuclear | - | - | 0.68 | 1.36 | 1.37 | 1.37 | 0.05 |
| - Wind | - | - | - | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.09 | 545.87 |
| - Geothermal | - | 0.15 | 0.70 | 0.85 | 0.95 | 1.00 | 2.59 |
| - Other Renewables | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Electricity Production (TWh) | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2007 | 2000 - 2007 |
| TOTAL** | 28.71 | 66.96 | 122.44 | 192.73 | 217.17 | 231.18 | 2.85 |
| - Thermal | 13.70 | 49.13 | 90.84 | 145.52 | 180.45 | 185.82 | 3.96 |
| - Hydro | 15.01 | 16.91 | 23.54 | 33.08 | 27.61 | 27.04 | -2.61 |
| - Nuclear | - | - | 2.94 | 8.22 | 1.80 | 10.42 | 3.82 |
| - Wind | - | - | - | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.25 | 428.57 |
| - Geothermal | - | 0.92 | 5.12 | 5.90 | 7.30 | 7.65 | 4.23 |
| - Other Renewables | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total Electricity Consumption (TWh) | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2000 | 2000 - 2007 |
| TOTAL | 1.15 | 2.68 | 4.90 | 7.71 | 8.69 | 9.25 | 2.85 |
| *Latest Available Data | |||||||
| **Electricity transmission losses are not deducted | |||||||
| TABLE 6: Energy Related Ratios | ||||||
| 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2007 | |
| Energy Consumption Per Capita (GJ/Capita) | 34.00 | 58.00 | 60.00 | 70.00 | 75.00 | 79.00 |
| Electricity Consumption Per Capita (kWh/Capita) | 570.00 | 999.00 | 1384.00 | 2753.00 | 2896.00 | 2926.00 |
| Electricity Production/Energy Production (%) | 16.76 | 17.22 | 23.07 | 39.33 | 38.61 | 37.04 |
| Nuclear/Total Electricity (%) | - | - | 2.40 | 4.30 | 5.01 | 4.56 |
| Ratio of External Dependency (%)** | - | - | - | - | -3.00 | -2.00 |
| *Latest Available Data | ||||||
| **Net Import/Total Energy Consumption | ||||||
| Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database | ||||||
Mexico is energy self sufficient, not only that, but it is also a net exporter of energy, however it is highly dependent on hydrocarbons, almost all the energy exported is in the form of crude oil and about 90% of the energy used in the country comes from oil and gas, only about 5% comes from hydro. In order to alleviate this situation, Mexico has recently incorporated other forms of energy like geothenna1, coal and, from 1990 on, also nuclear energy.
The National Commission for Nuclear Energy (CNEN) was established in 1956 to pave the way for the introduction of nuclear power and nuclear applications in Mexico. CNEN encompassed all the nuclear activities in the country (exploration for uranium, nuclear research, regulation, etc.) but the generation of electricity by nuclear means (which was the sole responsibility of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE)) and the radioisotopes utilization. Later on the CNEN was transformed into the National Institute on Nuclear Energy (INEN), which redefined the attributes but with very few changes.
In 1979, INEN disappeared and was substituted by three organizations: The National Institute of Nuclear Research (ININ) in charge of all the aspects related to research, Mexican Uranium (URAMEX) in charge of uranium exploration and, eventually, uranium production and the National Commission on Nuclear Safety and Safeguards (CNSNS) in charge of nuclear regulation and safeguards. In 1985, URAMEX disappeared and all its functions passed to the Ministry of Energy.
The interest of Mexico in nuclear power dates back to the early 60's and the first concrete steps were taken in 1966, when a preliminary investigation of potential sites for nuclear power stations was carried out under the auspices of CFE and the National Commission for Nuclear Energy. At the end of the 60's, the government concluded that nuclear power plants might play a major role. In early 1969, CFE decided to invite bids for a 600 MW(e) nuclear power plant of a proven type and invitations to tender were sent to several manufacturers. The bids were received at the beginning of 1970, but the final decision, with up-to-date bids, was taken in the middle of 1972. In 1976; the construction of the Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant (LVNPP) was initiated, comprising two reactors of 654 MW(e) net each. The first unit went into commercial operation in 1990 and the second in April 1995.
As mentioned above, there is only one nuclear plant in operation with two BWR reactors of 654 MW(e) net each (Table 7). For the time being there are no plans regarding new units or new plants. The National Energy Plan issued in 1990, for the time being is still valid, however it will probably be revised in the near future.
Laguna Verde unit 1 went into commercial operation in 1990, its performance has been quiet good since the very beginning. Unit 2 went into commercial operation in April 1995.
| TABLE 7: STATUS AND PERFORMANCE OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS | ||||||||||
| Station | Type | Net Capacity | Operator | Status | Reactor Supplier | Construction Date+ | Criticality Date | Grid Date ++ | Commercial Date | Shutdown Date |
| LAGUNA VERDE-1 | BWR | 680 | CFE | Operational | GE | 28034 | 32455 | 32611 | 33083 | - |
| LAGUNA VERDE-2 | BWR | 680 | CFE | Operational | GE | 28277 | 34583 | 34649 | 34799 | - |
| *UCF (Unit Capability Factor) for the latest available year (only applicable to reactors in operation) | ||||||||||
| **Latest Available Data | ||||||||||
| +Date of initial concrete placing for base mat | ||||||||||
| ++Date of first connection to grid | ||||||||||
| Source: PRIS Database (www.iaea.org) | ||||||||||
Extended Power Up rated (EPU)
In 2006 plans for a power uprate of 20 percent were announced that would bring the plant's capacity up to 1634 MWE, General Electric performed the engineering analysis to determine the necessary plant modifications and to support the safety analysis report necessary for approval of the power uprate by the Mexican nuclear regulator.
Following a competitive tender, which was won by Iberdrola and Alstom, the work began in 2008, and is expected to finish in 2010. The main modifications consist in a turbine and condenser retrofit and the replacement of the electric generator, main steam reheater and the feedwater heater. The budget for the project is $605 million dollars.
License renewals
We are working in the extended power up rated (EPU), the second phase will be in: Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant U1 14th Refueling Outage in March 2010 and U2 11th Refueling Outage in August 2010, several changes mainly in the BOP side, new High Pressure and Low Turbines, new generator, new main transformer and auxiliary one new Electro Hydraulic Control System (EHC), change of bypass valves and so on.
In the licensing part, our Licensing Amendment Request is under National Commission on Nuclear Safety and Safeguards (CNSNS) review, in this sense, we receive Preliminary Updated Safety Analysis Report (PUSAR) requirement additional information, we receive the approval for the use of the code Transient Analysis Code (TRACG) in anticipated Operational Occurrence (AOOS).
No nuclear power plants are planned for development.
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
There are no NPP's suppliers in the country. The main components of the Laguna Verde plant were acquired abroad. At the beginning, the main architect engineer for unit 1 was the Electric Bond and Share Company (EBASCO), but later on, and especially for unit 2, CFE acted as architect engineer with the advice of EBASCO and General Electric (GE).
The Laguna Verde plant is owned by CFE, the operation and maintenance is done by CFE personnel. In the past, the operator training was done at several similar installations in Spain and the United States. Nowadays, the training is mainly done locally, using the simulator which has been installed at the plant's premises.
None
Mexico is not producing uranium due to the low cost of uranium currently available on the world market. For the next years, the required uranium for reloads of Laguna Verde will be obtained from the world market, since currently there are no plans for producing uranium in Mexico. Some 2,000 tons of uranium reserves have been identified in Mexico, but they are too expensive to exploit considering current prices.
Uranium is bought either as hexafluoride or as concentrate that is converted to hexafluoride by, Comurhex in France through a long-term contract. Enrichment is provided by the United States' Department of Energy also through a long-term contract. Fuel fabrication is currently done in the United States by General Electric (GE).
As for spent nuclear fuel, the current plans are to store it at the reactors' pools, which have been re-racked to increase the original capacity in order to accommodate the spent fuel that the reactors will produce during their expected operating life. This plan allows time to take a more definite decision depending on future developments in uranium availability and price, expansion of the Mexican nuclear power capacity, new technologies, etc
The main research centers are the National Institute of Nuclear Research (ININ) and the Electric Research Institute (IIE), in the field of nuclear energy pacific uses, ININ has defined 11 research and development topics, to which its scientific and technological activities are directed, to improve population living conditions.
In ININ we continuously make our best effort for the creation, suitability and development of technology, carrying out research projects, as basic, applied and experimental development, in response to energy sector needs, as well as to disciplines related to use of nuclear energy for pacific uses in our country’s benefit.
This institute has qualified staff (personnel) which is recognized as in national as international field, in several science and engineering areas, which provides the capability to face multidisciplinary projects.
None
Research and development activities carried out jointly with other countries.
1. Agreement of co-operation between the Mexican Electric Research Institute and the Electrical Power Research Institute of the United States of America (USEPRI) for the development and application of the RETRAN-3 Code for NPP's operational transient analysis.
2. Agreement of co-operation between the Mexican Electric Research Institute and the USEPRI in the development and application of the R & R Workstation for NPP's probabilistic risk analysis applications.
3. Agreement of co-operation between the Mexican Electric Research Institute and the USEPRI in the development and application of the MAAP-3 Code for NPP's severe accidents analysis.
4. Agreement of co-operation between the Mexican Electric Research Institute and the USEPRI in the development and application of the CPM-3 Code for the nuclear data library generation for advanced fuels.
5. Agreement of co-operation between the Mexican Electric Research Institute and the Rensselear Polytechnic Institute of the United States for the development and application of the April Code I for NPP's severe accidents analysis.
6. Agreement of co-operation between the Mexican Electric Research Institute and the Cuban Institute for Hydrography for the development of the Northwest Caribbean Sea Oceanographic Chart. I
Currently in Mexico are offered careers related to nuclear engineering at the following universities:
- Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Mexico, "Masters of Science Nuclear.
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, "Masters and Ph.D. in nuclear power systems"
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, "Masters of nuclear physics"
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional "Master in Nuclear Engineering"
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, "Nuclear Engineering"
Laguna Verde is showing a growing trend in the incorporation of a large number of qualified collaborators as instructors. An increase in 48 percent has been obtained from 2005 to 2008 going from 11.93 to 17.75 percent (including retired workers) from 2005 to 2008. One out of seven collaborators is qualified as a specialized instructor which has allowed us to capitalize on their experience by preparing instructors not only to teach courses but also to develop training materials thus reinforcing the creation of knowledge. In addition, this has allowed us to have a “soft” and planned generational change. .
The number of teaching packages developed per year. From 2004 to 2008, the number of teaching packages increased by 377, going from 235 to 612 with the support of the instructors we have qualified. This reinforces the standardization of knowledge at an organizational level. Note that the number of teaching packages done by the GCN is a lot higher than that those done by the training centers from Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE). .
Training plans include the training packages (or lectures) required by the substantive processes. In 2005, we reached the American nuclear industry average and we are currently positioned as benchmark. Starting this year, we started the analysis of other supporting processes to develop the training plans, using the Systematic Approach to Training (SAT). .
We maintain a replacement index higher than 40% to guarantee the replacement of qualified personnel because of vacations, sick leaves, commissions as well as attending to the generational change because of retirements (The GCN staff started 31 years ago). In our GCN the institutional goal of 25 percent has been widely exceeded.
Desertion and voluntary retirement levels are practically nil, as these last four years only three people have asked for a voluntary retirement from a staff of 1200 workers.
The Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), trough of Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant had been approached by business groups as:
Business Coordinating Council http://www.cce.org.mx/
Industrial Club http://www.club.org.mx/
Mario Molina Center http://www.centromariomolina.org/
Forum Chamber of Deputies http://www3.diputados.gob.mx/
Camara Academy of Engineering http://www.ai.org.mx/
The approaches mentioned do not correspond to government agencies, during these dialogues and presentation of studies and books whose content displays data and facts regarding the feasibility of the development of new plants have enabled positive expressions of interest in the growth of installed capacity by nuclear power plants.
The licensing consists of two steps, the first one concludes with the granting of the "Construction Permit" and the second step with the "License for Commercial Operation". The process starts with the application to build a NPP, by the utility (in Mexico up to now there is a national owned company, called Federal Electricity Commission), presenting to the National Regulatory Body (National Commission on Nuclear Safety and Safeguards) the application itself and the preliminary studies of:
· Siting;
· Environmental impact;
· Quality assurance programme during construction phase.
If these documents satisfy the scope required by CNSNS, the utility is required to present the technical information on the NPP to be built; this information includes the construction procedures and fundamental safety systems to cope with the operational transients and postulated accidents. This information is evaluated by the CNSNS's technical personnel and a set of questions is transmitted to the utility, before the pouring of any concrete at the site. During the Laguna Verde experience, three "Provisional Construction Permits" were granted to CFE before the so-called "Definitive Construction Permit" issue. This limited work authorization has been eliminated in the present procedure for future NPPs.
During the construction itself, the regulatory body inspects the construction of the NPP and has the legal authority to stop the work if the agreed standards are not fulfilled. After the evaluation of the documentation, the regulatory body can issue the "Technical Basis" to grant the construction permit, addressed to the Ministry of Energy, being this the authority allowed by nuclear law, to grant the permit.
At certain stage of the construction and before the start of the pre-operational test period, the utility is required to present to the regulatory body the technical information related with:
· Final design of the station.
· Final site studies.
· Final environmental impact studies.
· Quality assurance programme to the operating phase.
· Final studies on plant performance during transients and postulated accidents.
· Set of operating procedures.
· Operations personnel training programme.
· Pre-operational and start-up test programme.
· Proposed technical specifications.
If these process documents are not clear enough in any technical subject, the regulatory body generates questions to clarify any topic. As a result of this process the regulatory body issues the following documents:
· Permit to load the fuel.
· Set of technical specifications.
The technical basis to grant the operation license, is addressed to the Ministry of Energy, because according the nuclear law, this is the Authority who can grant this kind of documents.
After the fuel load the regulator remains to monitor the performance of the low power test period and any change of power (0 to 5%, 5 to 10%, 10 to 25%, 25 to 50%m 50 to 75% and 75 to 100%), the engineers of the national body review the test results and evaluate possible discrepancies between the acceptance criteria and test results.
Essential legal texts regulating nuclear power in the country
· Constitution of Mexico, Article 27 in force.
· Regulatory Law of Article 27 of the Constitution on Nuclear Matters, published in the official gazette on February 4, 1985
· Law on Third Party Liability for Nuclear Damage, published in the official gazette on December
· Radiological Safety Regulations, published in the official gazette on November 8, 1988.
· General Act on Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection, published in the official gazette on January 28, 1987
· Mexican Official Guidelines NOM-OI2-STPS-1993, on health and safety at work in premises where ionizing sources are handled, stored or carried, published in the official gazette on June 15, 1994.
Mechanisms in place for financing decommissioning and waste disposal:
· For wastes proceeding form radioisotope applications, its storage cost is recuperated from the generators of this kind of wastes
· For low and intermediate level radioactive wastes proceeding from the Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant (L VNPP), they will be stored in a repository using the French approach. This repository will be located in the same site
· For high level radioactive wastes, technology progresses and the future nuclear programme are being expected in order to make a decision for these kinds of wastes
The final disposal of radioactive wastes management is a responsibility of the State, in the case of wastes proceeding from L VNPP the Federal Electricity Commission will be in charge of financing its storage. For decommissioning, the State through CFE will be in charge of financing this process.
Nuclear power stations are a proven alternative in Mexico, as demonstrated by the high availability, reliability and safety indicators at Laguna Verde. It is also a realistic option to comply with environmental requirements that are anticipated to be stricter in the future. However, there are no future plans for development of new nuclear facilities in the short term due to the high initial investments required which at the moment are not competitive with those of plants based on natural gas.
The Ministry of Energy is responsible for nuclear fuel cycle policy and operations, and can by law authorize some of these responsibilities to public entities such as the federal electricity commission (CFE) and the national nuclear research institute (!NIN).
CFE has been authorized by the Ministry of Energy to negotiate uranium stock purchases, uranium enrichment and fuel fabrication contracts.
An interim waste repository managed by ININ collects all low and intermediate level radioactive wastes produced in medical, industrial and other radioisotope applications. This repository will be replaced by a permanent one in the future. Another interim low and intermediate level radioactive waste repository is operated by the Laguna Verde Plant to handle wastes coming from the station.
Spent nuclear fuel from the Laguna Verde Plant is being stored in the reactor's pools, which have been re-racked to increase the original capacity in order to accommodate all the spent fuel that the reactors will produce during their expected lifetime. This solution gives CFE the time needed to study all possibilities before adopting a definitive solution, depending on future development regarding the final disposal of high-level radioactive wastes.
[1] Crónica a del Gobierno de Carlos Salinas de Gortari, Síntesis e Índice Temático, Primera Edición, Presidencia de la Republica, Unidad de la Crónica Presidencial, Editorial Fondo de Cultura Económica, México, D.F.
[2] E1 Sector Energético en México, Edición 1994, Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática, México, D.F., 1994,295 p.p.
[3] Balance Naciona1 de Energía 1993, Secretaria de Energía, Minas e Industria Paraestatal,
México, D.F., 1994, 72 p.p.
[4] Informe de Labores, 1993-1994, Petróleos Mexicanos, Talleres Gráficos de México, México, D.F., 1994, 146 p.p.
[5] Informe de Labores, 1993-1994, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, Talleres Gráficos de México, México, D.F., 1994,64 p.p.
[6] Informe de Labores, 1993-1994, Secretaria de Energía, Minas e Industria Paraestatal, Talleres Gráficos de México, México, D.F., 1994,95 p.p.
[7] Informe de Labores, 1993-1994, Luz y Fuerza del Centro, Talleres Gráficos de México, México, D.F., 1994,63 p.p.
[8] Informe de Labores, 1993-1994, Comisión Federal de Electricidad. Talleres Gráficos de México, México, D.F., 1994, 124 p.p.
[9] Informe de Labores, 1993-1994, Instituto de Investigaciones Eléctricas, Talleres Gráficos de México, México, D.F., 1994, 75 p.p.
[10] Informe de Labores, 1993-1994, Secretaria de Gobernación, Talleres Gráficos de México, México, D.F., 1994, 124 p.p.
[11] Informe de Labores, 1993-1994, Secretaria de Hacienda y Crédito Publico, Talleres Gráficos de México, México, D.F., 1994,90 p.p.
[12] Avance de Información Económico Producto Interno Bruto Nominal Trimestral, Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática, México, D.F., 1994.
[13] Estados Unidos Mexicanos Perfil Sociodemográfico, XI Congreso General de Población y Vivienda, Instituto Naciona1 de Estadística, Geografía e Informática, Garza, Gustavo y Rivera, Salvador.
[14] Dinámica macroeconómica de las ciudades en México, Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática y Colegio de México, México, D.F., 120 p.p.
[15] Agreements Registered with the International Atomic Energy Agency, Eleventh Edition, Legal
Series Nt 3, IAEA, Vienna, Austria, 1993,278 p.p.
[16] Data & Statistics/The World Bank, www.worldbank.orgldata.
[17] IAEA Energy and Economic Data Base (EEDB).
[18] IAEA Power Reactor Information System (PRlS).
INTERNATIONAL, MULTILATERAL AND BILATERAL AGREEMENTS
AGREEMENTS WITH THE IAEA
· NPT and Tlatelolco related safeguards agreement - INFCIRC No: 197
Entry into force: 14 September 1973
· Additional Protocol
Not signed
· Improved procedures for designation of safeguards inspectors
Accepted: 27 February 1989
· Supplementary agreement on provision of technical assistance by the IAEA
Entry into force: 4 June 1981
· ARCAL
Entry into force: April 1988
· New ARCAL Agreement
Ratification: 7 August 2000
· Agreement on the privileges and immunities of the IAEA
Entry into force: 19 October 1983
OTHER RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL TREATIES
· NPT
Entry into force: 21 January 1969
· Tlatelolco
Entry into force: 20 September 1967
· Convention on the physical protection of nuclear material
Entry into force: 4 May 1988
· Convention on early notification of nuclear accidents
Entry into force: 10 June 1988
· Convention on assistance in the case of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency
Entry into force: 10 June 1988
· Vienna convention on civil liability for nuclear damage
Entry into force: 25 July 1989
· Joint Protocol Non-Party
· Protocol to amend the Vienna convention on civil liability for nuclear damage
Not signed
· Convention on nuclear safety
Entry into force: 24 October 1996
· Convention on supplementary compensation for nuclear damage
Not signed
· Joint convention on the safety of spent fuel management and on the safety of radioactive waste management
Not Signed
· ZANGGER Committee
Non-member
· Nuclear export guidelines
Not Adopted
· Acceptance of NUSS codes as guidelines in preparation and application of national requirements be used (Mexican nuclear safety legislation is in conformity with codes)
Summary: Codes should 11 July 1963
MULTILATERAL AGREEMENTS
· Standard agreement concerning technical assistance to Mexico
Entry into force:
Parties:
- United Nations Organization (ONU)
- International Labour Organization (ILO)
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)
- United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- International Telecommunicatios Union (ITU)
- World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- Universal Postal Union
· Transfer of enriched uranium for a research reactor
Entry into force: 18 December 1963
Parties: Mexico, USA, lAEA
· Lease of source material for a subcritical assembly
Entry into force: 20 June 1966
Parties: Mexico, USA, lAEA
· Lease of source material for a subcritical facility
Entry into force: 23 August 1967
Parties: Mexico, USA, lAEA
· Transfer of a training reactor and enriched uranium
Entry into force: 21 December 1971
Parties: Mexico, Germany, lAEA
· Second supply agreement for transfer of enriched uranium for a research reactor
Entry into force: 4 October 1972
Parties: Mexico, USA, IAEA
· Supply of uranium enrichment services
Entry into force: 12 February 1974
Parties: Mexico, USA, IAEA
· Second supply agreement for supply of uranium enrichment services for a second reactor unit
Entry into force: 4 June 1974
Parties: Mexico, USA, IAEA
· Transfer of title to natural uranium
Entry into force: 23 May 1989
Parties: Mexico, USA, IAEA
· Plan of operation for a UN Special Fund project in Latin America (Eradication of Mediterranean Fruit Fly)
Entry into force: 29 July 1965
Parties: Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, UN Special Fund, IAEA
· Plan of operation for a UNDP project in Latin America, Amendment NIL
Entry into force: 31 July 1968
Parties: Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, UN Special Fund, IAEA
· Preliminary study of a nuclear electric power and desalinization plant
Entry into force: 7 October 1965
Parties: Mexico, USA, IAEA
· Agreement concerning provision of a dose assurance service by IAEA to irradition facilities in its Members States (Exchange of letters)
Entry into force: 18 September 1985
Parties: Mexico, India, Syria, Argentina, Philippines, Malaysia, Belgium, Chile, Switzerland, Egypt, Hungary, Thailand, South Africa, Korea, Republic of, Algeria, Netherlands, Lebanon, Singapore, Denmark, Yugoslavia, Brazil, China.
BILATERAL AGREEMENTS
· Agreement between the Government of the United Mexican States and the Government of Australia concerning co-operation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy and the transfer of nuclear material.
Signed on 28 February, 1992, entered into force 1 Oct 1992.
· Agreement between the Government of the United Mexican States and the Government of Canada for Co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Signed in 16 November, 1994, entered into force on 9 May 1995.
DIRECTORY OF THE MAIN ORGANIZATIONS, INSTITUTIONS, AND COMPANIES
INVOLVED IN NUCLEAR POWER RELATED ACTIVITIES
NATIONAL ENERGY AUTHORITIES
Ministry of Energy (SE) Tel.: +525-564-97-56
Av. Insurgentes Sur N1 552 Fax: +525-574-10-10
Col. RomaSur http://www.energia.gob.mx
México D.F.
Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) Tel.: +525-229-54-90
Salamanca N1 102 Fax: +525-525-22-35
Col. Roma
México D.F.
National Commission of the Nuclear Safety Tel.: +525-590-41-81
And Safeguards (CNSNS) Fax: +525-590-61-03
Dr. Barragan N1 779 Email: cnsns1@servidor.unam.mx
Col. Narvarte
México D.F.
NUCLEAR RESEARCH INSTITUTES
National Institute of Nuclear Research (ININ) Tel.: +525-521-94-02
Carretera Federal México-Toluca Km. 36.5 Fax: +525-590-61-03
Salazar, Edo. de México. http://www.inin.mx
Electrical Research Institute (IIE) Tel.: +525-521-94-02
Av. Reforma N1 113 Fax: +525-521-37-98
Col. Palmira http://www.iie.org.mx
Temixco, Morelos.
Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares (UNAM)
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
Comisión Federal de Electricidad http://www.cfe.gob.mx/
Agency for the Prohibition of the Nuclear Weapons
In Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL) http://www.opanal.org/
Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo (IMP) http://www.imp.mx