Mexico's CFE announces tenders for 12 projects

Mexico's state utility CFE announced it will launch tenders for 12 electric power and natural gas infrastructure projects.

The projects will require a total investment of US$3.3bn and will add 1,000km to the country's gas pipeline network, 666MW of installed capacity to the electric grid and 1,000km to the transmission and distribution network, CFE said in a press release.

The utility said the tender process has begun for three natural gas pipelines, a natural gas transport project for Baja California Sur, a combined cycle power plant in Sinaloa state, four electric power transmission projects and three distribution projects.

The first gas pipeline will run 528km between Samalayuca (Chihuahua state) and Sásabe (Sonora), at a cost of US$916mn, transporting 550Mf3/d from Waha, Texas, to the yet-to-be-built San Isidro-Samalayuca pipeline and the Sásabe-Guaymas pipeline, which is under construction. The pipeline will enter operation in June 2017.

The 250km Colombia-Escobedo pipeline will have a 500Mf3/d capacity and cost US$450mn, importing natural gas to Mexico'a north and northeast from Webb county, Texas. It is also slated for June 2017 completion.

The third pipeline will run 237km from Tuxpan (Veracruz) to Tula (Hidalgo), transporting 700Mf3/d and costing US$350mn. It will connect with two planned pipelines and is scheduled for March 2017 completion.

The CFE will also launch a tender for the construction of the 666MW Topolobampo III combined cycle power station in Ahome, Sinaloa, at a cost of US$631mn. The winning bid will be awarded in August and the plant is slated to enter service in June 2018.

The tenders include a maritime natural gas transportation contract for Baja California Sur, as well as four electricity transmission lines and substations and three distribution contracts in six states.

A 9km, 115kV transmission line will be built in Baja California, along with three substations, costing US$17mn and slated for 3Q16 completion, in addition to two 230kV lines totaling 367km across the states of Campeche and Quintana Roo, and three substations at a cost of US$64mn and entering service in January 2017.

The projects also include seven transmission lines of 400 and 230kV totaling 421km and including five substations in Sonora costing US$105mn scheduled for January 2017 completion; three 400kV lines measuring 118km, and four substations in Sonora and Sinaloa, costing US$116mn and penciled in for February 2017 completion.

The electricity distribution projects include a US$7mn, 115kV, 4km line and a substation in Sonora that is expected to reach completion in May 2016, and a 115kV, 64km line and two substations in Chihuahua state costing US$12mn and entering service in June 2016.

The tenders also include a substation and a 6km, 115kV transmission line in Yucatán state costing US$8mn and slated for July 2016 completion.