Los Humeros, Mexico's Third Geothermal Field at 95.7 MW, Receives CFE Inspection

On July 5, 2026, the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) conducted a comprehensive inspection of the Los Humeros geothermal field, the country's third most important with 95.7 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity and over 35 years of uninterrupted commercial operation, as reported by La Crónica de Hoy.

The visit is part of CFE's Geothermal Strengthening Plan, which aims to secure clean baseload generation for the National Electric System (SEN). Located between the states of Puebla and Veracruz, Los Humeros has been supplying geothermal steam to the grid since 1990, ranking third in national geothermal output behind Cerro Prieto in Baja California and Los Azufres in Michoacán. According to El Heraldo de Puebla, the inspection aligns with the national energy transition strategy and the country's energy sovereignty objectives. Geothermal energy is one of the few renewable sources capable of delivering firm electricity around the clock, making it a strategic asset for SEN stability and a primary reason CFE is working to extend the operational life of its fields.

Francisco Javier Maldonado Ramos, CFE's Director of Operations, led the walkthrough accompanied by teams from the Technical Coordination, the Southeast Regional Production Coordination, and CFE's Geothermoelectric Projects Management, as well as regional representatives of the Sindicato Único de Electricistas de la República Mexicana (SUTERM). The inspection covered four areas: labor conditions for the complex's technical staff, the state of steam supply and power generation equipment and facilities, geothermal projects currently under development within the complex, and ongoing maintenance works. While CFE did not specify the nature of those new projects or their projected capacity, their inclusion in the inspection agenda signals that the state-owned company is evaluating expansion or repowering options at the field.

The inspection confirms that CFE is sustaining operations at an asset with over three decades of service while simultaneously evaluating new geothermal projects at the same complex. Los Humeros' ability to continue contributing firm generation to the SEN in the near term will depend on the progress of those projects and the maintenance program CFE is executing across its geothermal fields.

This article was drafted with artificial intelligence assistance from verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.