August 06, 2026
The so-called Litio para México (“LitioMx”) published in the Federal Official Gazette (Official Journal of the Federation) the 2026–2030 Institutional Program of LitioMX (Programa Institucional de Litio para México 2026–2030) (the "Program”), which sets out LitioMx’s institutional roadmap through 2030 to strengthen Mexico’s energy sovereignty and promote sustainable development of domestic lithium value chain, in alignment with the 2025–2030 National Development Plan (Plan Nacional de Desarrollo 2025–2030) and the 2025–2030 Energy Sector Program (Programa Sectorial de Energía 2025–2030).
Below are the key points of the Program:
I. Strategic objectives
- Consolidate exploration, assessment and technical management of lithium resources in Mexico.
- Develop active materials and other intermediate products within the lithium value chain.
- Establish a small-scale industrial facility for the production of battery packs.
- Develop studies and small-scale applications for stationary energy storage.
- Improve energy, environmental and circular performance of the lithium value chain.
- Develop legal and regulatory framework applicable to lithium as a strategic area.
II. Investment opportunities and regulatory outlook
- Develop domestic capabilities in active materials, battery-pack manufacturing, stationary energy storage and industrial scaling.
- Establish national and international strategic alliances to promote technology transfer and joint research with automotive and energy industries.
- LitioMx may associate with public and private institutions for production, transformation and distribution of lithium-derived products.
- Prepare proposals for specific lithium statute, implementing regulations and administrative instruments applicable to lithium value chain.
- Private-sector participation will depend on legal framework subsequently issued and structure adopted by LitioMx for each project.
- Lithium exploration, exploitation, beneficiation and use remain reserved to the Mexican State.
III. Next steps and implementation
- LitioMx will conduct studies to assess a pre-industrial battery-pack assembly facility for electromobility and small-scale stationary-storage applications.
- LitioMx and the Federal Electricity Commission (Comisión Federal de Electricidad) will assess Mexico’s future stationary-storage demand.
- Battery-pack facility targets: planning in 2026; feasibility and financing in 2027; strategic alliances in 2028; design and validation in 2029; and construction in 2030.
- Stationary-storage initiative targets: planning, feasibility studies, alliances, financing, engineering and potential construction or adaptation through 2030.
Our energy and infrastructure practice lawyers are at your disposal for any questions or comments regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
Juan Carlos Serra
Pamela Salas García
Iván Sánchez López
Paola Arcos Seoane