President Claudia Sheinbaum inaugurated the Manzanillo III combined-cycle gas power plant in Colima on June 13, 2026, to strengthen Mexico's national electric system.
The facility represents a strategic shift toward energy sovereignty and grid reliability. By utilizing natural gas and waste-heat recovery, the plant aims to provide a stable power supply while reducing the environmental footprint of traditional electricity generation.
The new plant adds 357 MW [1] to the Sistema Eléctrico Nacional. According to the Secretaría de Energía, the facility is designed to be both clean and water-saving, utilizing modern combined-cycle technology to maximize efficiency.
President Sheinbaum said the plant guarantees clean energy for more than 2 million consumers [5]. The administration said the emission reductions are equivalent to removing 300,000 vehicles [5] from the road. Additionally, the plant's water-saving design results in annual savings equivalent to 85,000 tinacos [5].
Secretary of Energy Luz Elena González Escobar said the facility provides reliability through firm and cleaner energy [3]. The project is positioned as a foundation for future renewable energy initiatives and a means to ensure that the national grid can meet growing demand without relying solely on older, more polluting infrastructure.
Officials said that the Manzanillo III plant materializes the goal of energy sovereignty by reducing dependence on external power imports and volatile energy markets [6]. The plant's location in the state of Colima allows it to serve as a critical node for regional distribution.
“The new plant adds 357 MW to the Sistema Eléctrico Nacional.”
The inauguration of Manzanillo III signals the Mexican government's current strategy to bridge the gap between fossil fuels and renewables. By deploying combined-cycle gas turbines, the state is prioritizing 'firm' energy—power that is available consistently regardless of weather—to stabilize the grid while incrementally lowering carbon emissions compared to coal or heavy oil plants.
