New Geographies of Energy in Mexico

Introduction

The world is experiencing a profound energy transition driven by the urgent need to address the realities of climate change and the volatile nature of global energy markets. The shift from a century of fossil fuel dominance to a diversified, lower-carbon future is redrawing economic landscapes, geopolitical alliances, and national strategies. But what does this global overhaul mean for nations striving to balance energy security, development and environmental goals, and economic stability?

Focus of the Volume

This contributed volume examines how these forces are being expressed, contested, and reconfigured in Mexico. Moving beyond traditional analyses of production, demand, or investment trends, this book emphasizes the distinctly geographical dimension of energy: the ways in which exploration and production activities, pipelines, refineries, power plants, natural gas corridors, and renewable energy projects reorganize space, influence regional development trajectories, and affect livelihoods.

Evolution of Mexico’s Energy Sector

Chapters explore how Mexico’s energy sector has evolved over the span of decades from a highly centralized state monopoly to an increasingly complex ecosystem of public, private, local, and international actors. In doing so, the book illuminates the tensions between national energy policies and goals, economic competitiveness, and the imperative to decarbonize.

Analytical Approach

Through empirically grounded, locally informed analyses, New Geographies of Energy in Mexico illustrates how energy activities reshape territories at multiple scales, triggering social, economic, and environmental repercussions. The result is a resource for scholars, policymakers, industry leaders, and anyone seeking to grasp how energy is reshaping the regions of a critical North American player and what Mexico’s experience reveals about the complexities, challenges, and opportunities of crafting a more diversified energy industry.