By Daina Beth Solomon
MEXICO CITY, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Wal Mart de Mexico, Mexico's biggest retailer, said on Thursday that itwill open gas stations alongside its domestic stores, joiningother private companies that are now competing with Pemex, thecountry's former monopoly fuel seller.
Retail and convenience store chains are especially wellpositioned to tap into Mexico's retail gasoline market, giventheir existing networks of stores where motorists can buy snacksand sodas while filling up their tanks.
Wal-Mart de Mexico, known as Walmex, said its "first phase"includes six sites in the states of Tabasco, Nuevo Leon,Veracruz and Mexico, installed in shopping centers or parkinglots of its Walmart, Sam's Club and Bodega Aurrera stores.
Private companies began jumping into Mexico's retail fuelmarket after a 2013-14 energy sector overhaul ended state-ownedoil company Pemex's monopoly, which ranged from crude oilproduction to retail fuel sales and lasted for decades.
Mexico, the second-biggest economy in Latin America, is oneof the world's biggest gasoline consumers and the top foreignimporter of U.S. gasoline. The country boasts some 11,400 gasstations, the vast majority of which remain Pemex franchises andcontinue to buy Pemex wholesale fuel.
Foreign oil companies including Spain's Repsol,France's Total and Anglo-Dutch oil major Royal DutchShell operate hundreds of gas stations, while Mexicanretailer Femsa runs 500 under its Oxxo conveniencestore brand.
Walmex, with 2,395 stores across Mexico, did not say howmany fueling stations it ultimately plans to open, or over whattime period. Its U.S. parent company, Walmart, has longpartnered with fuel retailer Murphy USA on gas stationsnear its stores, which participate in a Walmart discountprogram.
Walmex fuel sales are intended to complement the company'sexisting businesses by offering gas at competitive prices andenticing motorists into stores, spokeswoman Gabriela Buenrostrosaid.
"In a single stop, they will be able to come to our storesand clubs to buy the merchandise they want as well as refuel gasin a safe and trustworthy way," she said in a statement.
Other new players in the retail fuel market, such asBritain's BP, have emphasized customer service to competeagainst Pemex, whose gas stations have long been criticized andsanctioned for not selling complete liters of fuel.(Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by David Alire Garciaand Leslie Adler)
