Sheinbaum Announces Mixed Investment Energy Plan with Focus on Yucatan Peninsula

Mexico City — President Claudia Sheinbaum announced an ambitious mixed investment energy plan on Friday in collaboration with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), aiming to strengthen Mexico’s energy sovereignty and expand electricity generation capacity, with significant projects planned across the Yucatan Peninsula.

During a public conference, the president emphasized that starting in 2026, CFE will begin construction on projects that will add 6,000 megawatts (MW) to the national grid.

“The scheme follows the model established by the energy reform, where CFE will maintain majority control with 54% of electricity generation, while the private sector will participate with 46%,” Sheinbaum explained.

The plan includes building new facilities, notably 60 combined-cycle power plants to be constructed during her administration to increase the public company’s capacity. Additionally, officials plan a massive investment exceeding $8 billion to strengthen the electrical transmission network, with a goal of sourcing at least 35% of generation from clean energy sources.

Projects in the Yucatan Peninsula

The region forms a priority for the plan, with initiatives in Quintana Roo, Yucatan, and Campeche:

• Quintana Roo: Included in a list of 66 transmission projects, three of which are clean energy projects (two photovoltaic and one wind) with a combined capacity of approximately 443 MW. Sheinbaum highlighted the CFV Los Girasoles project (110 MW), whose investment is still being evaluated. Additionally, construction continues on the Oxtankah substation in Chetumal with a 166 million peso investment, scheduled to begin operation by late 2026 and benefit over 53,000 residents. CFE will also receive 1,233 million pesos for maintenance and construction of substations in Cancun and the Riviera Maya.
• Yucatan: Will develop the Mérida IV combined-cycle plant, located next to the Mérida II plant in the state capital, as part of the comprehensive Cuxtal-Maya Kán energy project. Additionally, the Dzilam II wind park, with a 2,460 million peso investment and 120 MW capacity, will begin construction in 2026 and benefit over 87,000 households. The state already has the Tizimín wind plant (84 MW), operational since 2019 and developed through private initiative.
• Campeche: Plans include building a 250 MW combined-cycle plant requiring 50 million cubic feet of natural gas daily. The president also detailed that officials are studying renewable projects including a 100 MW photovoltaic park, a 100 MW offshore wind park, and a plasma gasification plant that will process municipal solid waste to generate 250 MW annually.

Expert Opinions

The strategy has generated interest in the sector. Emilia Esther Calleja Alor, CFE’s general director, emphasized that the projects aim to guarantee electricity supply and prevent risks to the system, “respecting legal deadlines and territorial conditions.”

Nancy Julieta Gamboa Mancilla, sustainability manager at Vive Energía, noted that “the Yucatan Peninsula becomes a key hub for the energy transition, combining conventional projects with clean sources that drive local development and emission reductions.”