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Mexico's Pemex prioritizes paying for past due debts to big provider

Mexican nationwide oil business Pemex partly resumed paying down what it owes to suppliers at the end of in 2015, focusing on big oilfield service companies over upstart private producers, according to company data and four market sources.

The world's most heavily-indebted oil company has not, however, publicly revealed the balance of its debts to suppliers considering that last October, when it stated it owed some $5.6. billion, not including other associated liabilities, including. lawsuits costs and taxes.

At the end last year's 3rd quarter, Pemex stated it owed. suppliers $17.4 billion.

The delayed payments to Pemex's key partners are a. longstanding issue that might disrupt operations if not. fixed.

Pemex did not respond to requests for remark.

It is, nevertheless, expected to provide an upgrade on the. When it reports its 4th quarter outcomes, overdue payments. next week.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has looked for to prop up. Pemex, administering more than $90 billion over the last five years. through a mix of tax cuts and capital injections.

The payments to providers restarted after some of. Pemex's major service professionals last December

openly criticized

the state-run business for its failure to pay up, arguing it. put them in a vital scenario.

A letter from personal oil companies was sent out to Mexico's. financing minister describing comparable gripes. While it was not made. public, a copy was seen .

Pemex soon started paying numerous countless dollars in. payments to major company SLB, Weatherford. and Halliburton, in what sources described as. an effort to privilege its own dependant operations initially.

SLB and Weatherford said in yearly reports that they. received substantial payments from Pemex; SLB stated it was paid. $ 560 million in 2015's fourth quarter, while Weatherford. got $140 million in the same period and later another $142. million in January.

Private oil companies that deliver all their crude and gas. production to Pemex, meanwhile, are seeing an average six month. hold-up on payments.

Pemex's strategy of paying the most essential service. suppliers avoided ... the hold-up in Pemex's own activities,. according to among the sources, adding that it discriminates. against the private producers.

Personal oil companies, allowed to run fields in Mexico. following a 2013 constitutional overhaul, produced 98,000. barrels each day (bpd) of crude as of last December, according to. oil regulator CNH, compared to Pemex's 1.6 million-bpd output.

There's an unfairness to Pemex's payments, stated another. source.

Halliburton and Weatherford declined remark, while SLB did. not immediately react to comment demands.

Baker Hughes, another significant Pemex provider,. said it is delighted to see (Pemex's) continued efforts to pay. their providers.

In annual reports, Halliburton stated Pemex represented. around 6% of balance dues; meanwhile, SLB said. Pemex represented 13% of its accounts receivable and Weatherford. put the figure at 22%.

In 2015 through September, Pemex reported that it had paid. contractors close to $17.6 billion.

A Pemex source said the company plans is to enhance. payments over the next quarter, utilizing part of a current tax cut. to partially settle the financial obligations.