Naturgy will invest 13 billion pesos in the next five years for the gas network.

Monterrey, NL. Naturgy México is preparing to meet the growing demand for natural gas resulting from the relocation of companies and estimates it will invest 13 billion pesos over the next five years to strengthen its natural gas network. Of that amount, nearly 40% is in the northern region, especially Monterrey and Saltillo. Monterrey has been preparing its infrastructure for several years to respond to the region's projected growth in the medium term, said Francisco Ripoll, the company's Director of Operations.

In an interview with the Nuevo León Energy Cluster on its YouTube channel, he explained that the Monterrey metropolitan area has approximately 10,000 kilometers of gas distribution network that connects to the high-pressure transportation infrastructure that passes through the city. "Five years ago, we had five entrances, and in recent years, we've built two more. Right now, we have seven gas entrances operating. The new project we have underway is to double one of the first five entrances."

In the last five years, he said, they've increased the city's gas inflow capacity by 30 to 40%. "That means we're very prepared for whatever may come, and we're simply going to keep up with the arrival of industrial plants and new residential construction as they arrive. We're ready, and we continue to invest in strengthening the system."

"In the next five years, we have a conservative estimate of investing approximately 13 billion pesos. Of that figure, practically 40% is in the northern region, especially Monterrey and Saltillo. However, in Monterrey, easily 40% of our investment is dedicated to infrastructure. We have a large network to maintain, and we see that it continues to grow significantly. We want to support that growth, not only by building new pipelines to reach new customers, but also to ensure the system is robust and solid," the executive stated.

The renovation that has been carried out on the seven gas entrances will generate competitiveness for Nuevo León, "because it is not only about having more gas but also about getting supplies from the best sites (...) we can buy gas almost anywhere in the United States, we have the possibility of entering from the American Union through multiple routes and what we are trying to achieve with that is to give it more competitiveness, especially to the industry which is the fundamental engine of development and with these supplies we are trying to expand them and improve those possibilities and price competitiveness," the idea is to have more gas at a better price, he asserted.

They are betting on expanding their gas network and providing energy

"We are a global company, not just a gas company. I would say that, across our entire business structure, we are 50% gas and 50% electricity. In each country, we analyze where the energy transition should move, seeking to make it as sustainable as possible, without losing competitiveness or security of supply." The energy trilemma seeks to balance priorities in the sector, with security, accessibility, and being as sustainable as possible.

In Mexico, Naturgy is committed to strengthening both the gas and electricity systems, and it is committed to supporting this path with the best fuel. "Right now, we continue to see a lot of room for gas; it's what supports this entry of renewables into the system. We have to build a robust system throughout the country. The more renewables we bring into the system, the more we have to strengthen them with basic technology and the best fuel to achieve efficiency. Our commitment to Mexico is complete, supporting this transition that we know is coming."

In conclusion, he noted that Naturgy Mexico drives regional economic development thanks to natural gas. "You can't have a company as important as a natural gas distributor without robust systems and infrastructure to support it. It's a 24/7 operation, every day of the year. There are peak and trough demand cycles, but the system has to provide the necessary volume and pressure to each distribution point."

He emphasized that Monterrey is today a driver of industrial growth and a winner in nearshoring: "Gas is essential to supporting this development, as it is present throughout the entire production chain and can meet the growing demand for energy."