Mexican oil regulators to cancel October auctions for Pemex joint ventures

Mexico`s oil regulator plans to announce the cancellation of auctions scheduled for October to pick joint venture partners for state-run energy company Pemex in seven onshore areas, two sources close to the decision told Reuters on Thursday. The auctions have already been postponed twice since last year and are expected to be formally cancelled later on Thursday, the sources said. 

Pemex could not be immediately reached for comment. The decision on whether or not the projects would go forward has been eagerly awaited by the industry given Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador`s pledge to revive Pemex, the world`s most indebted oil company.

Formally known as Petroleos Mexicanos, Pemex has seen its crude production fall for more than a dozen years. The joint ventures have been seen as a way to help reverse the slide by luring significant outside investment from private partners.