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Mexico Mulls First Crude Imports in Decades
 Robert Campbell - Reuters
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August 21, 2010
Mexico City - Mexico's state oil company Pemex is studying a plan to import crude for the first time in over 30 years to improve the profitability of its refineries, according to two sources familiar with the proposal.
The plan was first discussed by top managers of Pemex's refining subsidiary in March, the sources said.
"Opportunities have been identified at two refineries that could save millions of dollars," said one of the sources, who added that Pemex was still studying the proposal and cautioned the plan may never be implemented.
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment, said the proposal to import up to 40,000 barrels a day crude has been discussed at the highest levels of Pemex, the world's No. 7 oil producer, including among the company's board of directors.
Pemex's media office said no decision to import crude oil had been made and there were no immediate plans to do so.
Mexico has not imported crude oil since the discovery of huge offshore oil fields in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the 1970s but as these fields dry up Mexico's status as a major oil exporter is under threat.
A redacted copy of Pemex's 2010-24 business plan obtained by Reuters through a freedom of information request calls for Pemex to "optimize the crude slate" at its refineries, which currently run below capacity when using Mexican crude alone.
Since every grade of crude oil contains a unique mix of hydrocarbons, refiners typically use a blend of crudes so that different refinery components are fully utilized.
Brazil's state-controlled oil giant Petrobras, for instance, has become a major oil exporter in recent years but Petrobras still buys some foreign crude that better suits its refineries than Brazilian oil.
Pemex is looking to increase domestic refining to meet rising demand for gasoline and diesel and reduce its growing reliance on fuel imports, which exceed 500,000 barrels a day.
Experts have warned slumping oil production could turn Mexico into a net oil importer before 2020, but the sources insisted the current import proposal is aimed solely at improving refinery profitability.
Pemex's refining subsidiary lost 92.5 billion pesos ($7 billion) last year due to government price controls on fuel and inefficient operations.
Pemex's equity has been wiped out by heavy losses and the need to borrow to fund its investment program due to a crushing tax burden. Chief Executive Juan Jose Suarez has vowed to reduce costs and run the state giant more like a private firm.
HEDGING, METALLURGY
Pemex has two refineries with port facilities capable of handling crude oil imports, one near the Gulf Coast at Ciudad Madero and another at Salina Cruz on the Pacific.
The proposal calls for up to 20,000 barrels per day of crude to be purchased for each refinery depending on market conditions. The foreign crude oil grades would either displace Mexican crude currently processed or allow the refineries to run closer to their optimal capacity.
Before the plan could be implemented, Pemex would need to determine which grades of crude would best improve operations and also resolve other issues, one source said.
"We have to first figure out how to hedge price exposure, do some metallurgical studies at the refineries and see what effect imports would have on logistics," said the source.
Light, sweet crude oils that are well-suited to making gasoline are under consideration.
Pemex is taking other steps to boost fuel output, including a modernization and expansion of its Minatitlan refinery on the Gulf Coast due to be completed early next year.
It is also building its first new refinery since the 1970s, which is to be completed by late 2015.
But with gasoline demand expected to continue its rapid growth, Pemex has already warned a second new refinery may be needed to keep gasoline imports at acceptable levels.
(Editing by Missy Ryan and Sofina Mirza-Reid)
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