DENVER, March 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Unprecedented liberalization and reform in Mexico's energy sector are creating significant growth opportunities for the country's economy and for foreign investors, according to a just-released report by Bentek Energy*, an analytics and forecasting unit of Platts, a leading global provider of energy and commodities information.

"This summer, the Mexican government plans to award 14 blocks for the exploration of oil and natural gas in the Gulf of Mexico to private and public companies," said Maria Mejia, Bentek energy analyst and lead report author. "The government is also planning to award in the fall, five more blocks for the extraction of these resources."

Such reforms start the process of breaking up the 76-year monopoly of state-owned energy company Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), according to the report.

Bentek's analysis of Mexico's energy markets provides updates and key information on the following:

    --  Mexico's shifting energy regulatory environment
    --  Upstream developments
    --  Midstream and downstream infrastructure
    --  Crude oil refining and exports
    --  Natural gas processing, pipelines and supply
    --  Natural gas liquid (NGL) fractionation
    --  Ethane cracking
    --  Liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports
    --  Downstream demand

Access the full report, "Mexico's New Energy Landscape," at this link: http://www.bentekenergy.com/documents/Mexicos_New_Energy_Landscape_online.pdf.

For more information on analytics and forecasting in natural gas, NGLs and LNG visit: http://www.bentekenergy.com/index.aspx. Also visit www.platts.com for more information on energy and other commodities. Accredited media may schedule an interview with one of the report's authors by emailing this link: Schedule an interview RE: Mexico's New Energy Landscape.

(* Bentek Energy was acquired by Platts in 2011.)

About Platts: Founded in 1909, Platts is a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals, metals and agriculture information and a premier source of benchmark prices for the physical and futures markets. Platts' news, pricing, analytics, commentary and conferences help customers make better-informed trading and business decisions and help the markets operate with greater transparency and efficiency. Customers in more than 150 countries benefit from Platts' coverage of the biofuels, carbon emissions, coal, electricity, oil, natural gas, metals, nuclear power, petrochemical, shipping and sugar markets. A division of McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI), Platts is based in London with more than 1,000 employees in more than 15 offices worldwide. Additional information is available at www.platts.com.

About McGraw Hill Financial: McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI) is a leading financial intelligence company providing the global capital and commodity markets with independent benchmarks, credit ratings, portfolio and enterprise risk solutions, and analytics. The Company's iconic brands include: Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Dow Jones Indices, Platts, CRISIL and J.D. Power. The Company has approximately 17,000 employees in 30 countries. Additional information is available at www.mhfi.com.

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SOURCE Platts

SOURCE: Platts