We operate in the country with a 100% interest in the Area 1 operating licence, where activities for the development of the Amoca, Miztón and Tecoalli discoveries are underway. In 2019, we started early production of the Miztón field, the first step in the development of an oil hub with resources in place estimated at 2.1 billion equivalent barrels. Start-up began less than two and a half years from drilling the first well and less than a year from the approval of the development plan, demonstrating the effectiveness of our fast track model. In addition, we operate in Areas 10 (Eni's interest 80%), 14 (Eni's interest 60%) and 7 (Eni's interest 45%), located in the Sureste basin. In 2018 we signed agreements to swap participating interests with Lukoil, assigning 20% of Eni's share in Area 10 licences and acquiring 40% of Area 12, operated by Lukoil. The swap was approved by the Comisión Nacional de Hidrocarburos (CNH) in July 2019.  Also in 2018, we were assigned licences for Area 24, with a share of 65%, and Area 28, with a share of 75%, and we are operator in both.

Again in 2018, we were assigned licences for Area 24 with a share of 65% and Area 28 with a share of 75%, we are operators in both. Exploration and development in Mexico is regulated by production sharing agreements (PSAs) and a concession contract for the Area 24 licence. The development plan for the three discoveries at Amoca, Mitzón and Tecoalli was approved by the country's authorities in July 2018. The work took place in phases. Early production started in June 2019, with a platform installed and a connection facility to an existing onshore treater built. Initial production was around 8,000 barrels a day, and in 2020 we reached 20,000 barrels a day. Finally, the full field development phase involves installing three additional platforms and a floating production, storage and offloading unit (FPSO).

In February 2020 announced a new oil discovery on the Saasken Exploration Prospect in Block 10, located in the mid-deep water of the Cuenca Salina in the Sureste Basin, Offshore Mexico. Saasken-1 NFW is the sixth consecutive successful well drilled by Eni offshore Mexico. According to preliminary estimates, the new discovery may contain between 200 and 300 million barrels of oil in place.

In 2020 the development activities concern the full field development program of the operated license Area 1 (Eni’s interest 100%), already in production. Development drilling activities are ongoing and during 2020 were completed producing wells which were linked to the Miztón production platform. A subsequent development phase of the project includes the production start-up of the Amoca discovery by means of the installation of a new leased production platform, currently under construction, as well as the conversion and upgrading of an FPSO unit that will be completed in 2021 including all linking and treatment facilities. Production start-up is expected in 2022. During the year, the FEED phase for these two production platforms started up.

We operate in the country's chemicals sector with the subsidiary Versalis México, based in Mexico City.

In line with its commitment to ensure respect and promotion of human rights, Eni Mexico commissioned the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR), an independent body funded by the Danish state, to conduct a Human Rights Assessment (HRA) in relation to the activities of the Area 1 development project. The results of the study, which involved engagement with interested rights holders are summarised in the Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) report. To comply with the report's recommendations, Eni Mexico developed a Human Rights Action Plan (HRAP) at the end of 2019, to prevent and manage the key impacts and critical issues that were identified. The HRAP addresses most of the topics identified in the HRIA report and organises them into various components, including local communities, fishing, workplace and security.

In June 2020 we published an update of Eni for Human Rights,  the company’s report that provides information on its commitment to the respect for human rights, showing a strengthening of its internal procedures on this fundamental matter. The report builds on the work undertaken by Eni over the past 6 years in the countries in which we operate.

Claudio Descalzi, CEO of ENI, highlights the role of senior business leaders in promoting respect for human rights in concrete ways and by leading by example.

To prevent and combat the spread of Covid-19, in September 2020 through Eni Mexico we delivered 10 pulmonary ventilators for intensive care and a PCR thermocycler to the Government of the State of Tabasco. The donation also included 700 PCR kits that reach up to 1,500 Covid-19 tests, 500 reagents for generic viral tests, KN95 masks, sanitizing liquids and delivered information materials aimed at both the adults and children. In addition to this donation, with Eni México we delivered 3,900 pantry and cleaning kits to families in the coastal area of the Municipality of Cárdenas.