Woodside strengthens Mexico links

During her visit, Liz signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) – Mexico’s state-owned petroleum company and our partner in the Gulf of Mexico Trion project.

She was also very pleased and proud to meet with Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and the Secretary of Energy Luz Elena González Escobar to discuss the progress Trion was making.

This September was the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Mexico – a milestone marked by the launch in Canberra of a commemorative coin to acknowledge the two countries’ colonial numismatic history. Woodside sponsored the event.

And Woodsiders Andrew Decet, VP Government Relations, Jenny Samiec, Manager Government Relations and Policy and Kelly McManus, Senior Adviser Government Relations, attended a celebration in Canberra of Mexico’s Independence Day (16 September) led by Mexican Ambassador Ernesto Céspedes.

“It was a privilege to join the celebrations and witness the pride Mexicans have in their history and national identity,” Andrew said.

“As Mexico and Australia mark 60 years of diplomatic relations, it is encouraging to see the ties between our countries continue to deepen through trade, investment and people-to-people connections.

“Woodside is proud to play a part through the Trion project and our commitment to creating long-term value alongside our Mexican partners.”

The Woodside-PEMEX MOU was signed in Mexico City by Liz and Juan Carlos Carpio Fragoso, CEO of PEMEX.

This MOU builds on the strong relationship between Woodside and PEMEX and our joint efforts to develop oil and gas resources in Mexico’s ultra-deepwater,” Liz said.

She thanked the Government of Mexico and PEMEX for their continued support to deliver Trion. The door was now open to Woodside and PEMEX exploring further deepwater opportunities in the Gulf of Mexico, Liz added.

Trion is Mexico’s first ultra-deepwater oil development. Woodside is the operator and has a 60% participating interest, with PEMEX holding 40%.

The Trion field, some 180 km off the Mexican coast in 2,500 m of water, was discovered by PEMEX in 2012.

The development includes a floating production unit with a production capacity of 100,000 barrels per day and there is potential for future discoveries to be tied back to Trion facilities.

In Canberra, the Royal Australia Mint launched a collector’s coin that celebrates 60 years of diplomatic relations with the central American country.

Trading relations between the two nations began far earlier, however, and one trade illustrates how a shortage was overcome with typically Australian ingenuity.

In the early years of the 19th century, Governor Lachlan Macquarie needed coinage for his fledgling NSW colony. He landed on the idea of procuring some silver dollars, made by various Mexico mints during its time as a Spanish colony, and transforming them into Australia’s first coinage.

Mexican-minted dollar coins were widely traded at the time and popularly known as ‘pieces of eight’ because one dollar was worth eight Spanish reales.

Governor Macquarie acquired some 40,000 Mexican silver coins out of India in late 1812 and brought them to NSW. And in 1813, Macquarie released the Holey Dollar and the Dump – Australia’s first official coins.

In September, the design of the 2026 $1 Holey Collar Uncirculated Coin was released by the Australian Mint to commemorate those early coins, and honour the two countries’ shared numismatic heritage.

From an ingenious re-use of second-hand silver coins in the 19th century to an exciting ultra-deepwater oil development in the Gulf of Mexico in the 21st, Australia-Mexico trading links are long, varied and likely to deepen.

¡Olé!