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WORLD NEWS Thursday 10 February 2022

Kerry calls for keeping power markets open in Mexico

MEXICO CITY (AP) — U.S. natural gas, with some so-
climate envoy John Ker- lar, nuclear and hydroelec-
ry called Wednesday for tric plants.
more investment in clean The Mexican president de-
energy and urged Mexico nied Mexico didn’t want
to keep its market “open clean energy and suggest-
and competitive” amid ed the United States might
tensions over Mexico’s plan offer funding for his plans to
to favor its state-owned increase Mexico’s hydro-
electricity company and electric power capacity.
limit private and foreign “The thing is to reach agree-
firms that have invested in ments with the U.S. govern-
renewable power. ment on investments ... get-
“What we want to do is ting low-interest loans, at in-
work with Mexico in a way terest rates like they charge
that will strengthen ... the in the United States, that
ability of the marketplace would be an investment in
to be able to be open and favor of the environment,”
competitive,” Kerry said López Obrador said.
during opening remarks on U.S. Secretary of Energy
his visit to Mexico City. Jennifer M. Granholm vis-
U.S. firms have complained ited Mexico in January
bitterly about constitutional and wrote that “In each
changes proposed by Pres- meeting, we expressly con-
ident Andrés Manuel López veyed the Biden-Harris Ad-
Obrador in October. Those U.S. climate envoy John Kerry, left, bumps elbows with Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard ministration’s real concerns
changes are still held up during a photo opportunity on the sidelines of a meeting in Mexico City, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022. with the potential negative
Associated Press
in the Mexican Congress, impact of Mexico’s pro-
where they need a two- renewable energy and nostalgic about his youth in tor,” the embassy said in a posed energy reforms on
thirds majority that López said, “We respect com- the oil-rich Gulf coast state statement. “Promoting the U.S. private investment in
Obrador hasn’t yet been pletely the sovereignty of of Tabasco and has boost- use of dirtier, antiquated Mexico,” adding, “The pro-
able to pull together. Mexico,” a nod to López ed investment in oil refiner- and expensive technolo- posed reform could also
Those changes would Obrador’s push to favor ies. Those refineries often gies over efficient renew- hinder U.S.-Mexico joint ef-
guarantee a majority mar- energy self-sufficiency and produce dirty fuel oil as a able alternatives would put forts on clean energy and
ket share for state-owned state-owned companies. byproduct, which has to consumers and the econ- climate.”
power plants that often Mexico has denied López be burned at government omy in general at a disad- The bill submitted in Oc-
burn dirty fuel oil or coal, Obrador’s proposed re- power plants because few vantage.” tober would cancel con-
while limiting private wind, forms would violate Mex- other buyers want it any- López Obrador sought to tracts under which 34 pri-
natural gas and solar plants ico’s emissions-reduction more. downplay the friction Tues- vate plants sell power into
to a minority market share. pledges or the U.S.-Mexico The U.S. Embassy in Mexico day, saying “there are op- the national grid. The plan
Many U.S. companies op- Canada free trade pact, expressed concerns about portunities for investment. would also declare “illegal”
erating in Mexico either which prohibits favoring that on the eve of Kerry’s The only thing we want an additional 239 private
invested in cleaner power domestic industries over visit. to do at the same time is plants that sell energy di-
plants themselves or rely on foreign investors. “The government of the strengthen the CFE,” Mex- rectly to corporate clients
cheaper energy produced But the effects of López United States has repeat- ico’s state-owned Federal in Mexico. Almost all of
by them. Obrador’s affection for fos- edly expressed concern Electricity Commission. those plants are run with re-
Kerry offered U.S. financing sil fuels is also an underly- over Mexico’s current pro- The commission runs plants newable energy sources or
and technology to boost ing issue. He often waxes posal for the energy sec- that burn coal, fuel oil and natural gas.q

Guatemala Mayan community argues

before human rights court

By SONIA PÉREZ D. temalan government give representing the commu-
Associated Press them title to their land and nity, in a statement.
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — the right to determine how The plaintiffs expect that
Lawyers for an Indigenous its natural resources are ex- deliberations by the court
community in eastern Gua- ploited. seated in Costa Rica
temala made arguments “This case brings to the could take at least seven
before the Inter-American court, for the first time, a months. Mining operations
Court of Human Rights chance to rule on whether and other exploitation of
Wednesday in a case that governments should act natural resources on Indig-
could have far-reaching to recognize the rights of enous lands are frequently
implications for Indigenous Indigenous peoples to per- sources of conflict in the
communities throughout manent sovereignty over Americas and that prob-
the Americas. their natural resources, as a lem is expected to grow as The nickel mine run by the Swiss-based Solway Investment
The community of Agua principle of public interna- the pressure increases to Group stands next to Izabal Lake in El Estor in the northern coastal
Caliente, one of 16 Maya tional law,” said Leonardo produce valuable minerals province of Izabal, Guatemala, Oct. 25, 2021.
Q’eqchi’ communities in Crippa, an attorney with needed for green energy Associated Press
the El Estor municipality, is the Indian Law Resource initiatives, the center said. tus of lands near Lake Iza- disputes in the area for de-
demanding that the Gua- Center and one of those The cloudy ownership sta- bal has been the source of cades. q