Mobil stations debut in Mexico

Texas oil giant Exxon Mobil opened its first gas stations in Mexico last week as the nation’s largest oil company works to become a major Mexican fuel supplier.

The first eight Mobilbranded stations opened around Querétaro, a city in central Mexico. Exxon Mobil also made its first fuel shipments to Mexico last week, joining Chevron and other U.S. refiners seeking to supply one of the world’s largest markets, recently opened to foreign companies.

Since Mexico deregulated its energy sector, international gas stations have begun popping up this year, ending the monopoly held for decades by state-owned oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex. British oil major BP opened the first non-Pemex gas stations in Mexico this spring.

Exxon Mobil plans to open about 50 fueling station in central Mexico within the next three months. Exxon Mobil says it is the first company to offer integrated fueling services and products.

Most of the fuel that the company exports to Mexico will come from its Texas refineries. Exxon Mobil is shipping the fuel from Texas to Mexico via private rail terminals in San Luis Potosi and San Jose Iturbide.

Exxon Mobil said this is just the beginning of its $300 million commitment to take its fuel logistics services and gas stations to Mexico. It is working with retailer Grupo Orsan to open the first eight stations.

Carlos Rivas, fuels director for Exxon Mobil in Mexico, called the new service stations “a significant milestone for the country and our company” made possible by “Mexico’s new energy policy regime.”

At the same time, Pemex is expanding outside Mexico, opening its first U.S. fueling station in late 2015 in southeast Houston, with more planned.