Large swathe of southern Mexico starved of gas

Mexico's state oil company, Pemex, has told its customers in southeastern Mexico that it will have to cut supplies of natural gas by pipeline within a few days.

In November, Pemex said, customers will have to rely on gas imported in liquid form that is regasified and sold at about three times as much as gas transported directly by pipeline.

José Luis Uriegas, head of petrochemicals company Idesa, said that many companies in the region will have to close temporarily until the crisis ends.