How Permian gas pipelines are fueling Mexico's industrial boom
Mexico's industrial growth is boosting demand for affordable, reliable energy—especially natural gas. The country's expanding manufacturing sector, along with rising needs from data centres and petrochemical plants, has pushed consumption up sharply since 2020. At the centre of this shift is Esentia Energy Systems, which operates the only pipeline network transporting Permian Basin gas directly into Mexico's industrial heartland.
Since 2020, Mexico's demand for natural gas from the Permian Basin has climbed by over 30%. The biggest driver has been power generation, which consumes around 80% of the country's gas supply. But industrial use is also rising fast, particularly in fertiliser production and methanol plants run by state-owned PEMEX.
The Bajío region, a key industrial hub in central Mexico, is seeing steady growth in real estate supply, fuelled by data centres and other energy-intensive industries. Querétaro alone hosts 65% of Mexico's installed data centre capacity, further increasing gas demand. Esentia's pipeline system, the largest privately held interconnected network in Mexico, delivers low-cost Permian gas straight to these high-demand areas.
Esentia controls the entire corridor from West Texas' Waha hub to Mexico's industrial centres. This gives the company a pricing edge, as Waha gas trades at a discount compared to other sources. The system is now critical to Mexico's economic expansion, positioning Esentia as essential infrastructure rather than just a commercial operator.
The company's growth strategy focuses on high-margin private customers, including data centres, mining operations, and industrial parks. With Mexico becoming the top destination for U.S. nearshoring—thanks to supply chain shifts away from China—Esentia's role in supporting industrial expansion is set to strengthen further.
Esentia's pipeline network is now a backbone for Mexico's industrial and economic development. By supplying low-cost Permian gas to power plants, data centres, and manufacturing hubs, the company is helping meet surging energy needs. The system's strategic position and pricing advantage ensure its importance as Mexico's industrial growth continues.
