Mexico's Pemex aims to expand petrochemical plant

MEXICO CITY, April 27 (Reuters) - Mexico's state-run energy monopoly Pemex said on Sunday it had launched a tender to expand a Gulf of Mexico petrochemical plant and increase ethyl production.

Pemex said it aims to lift output of ethyl, which is used in everything from medicines to perfumes and fertilizers, to 900 million tonnes a year at the plant in Veracruz state, from a current 600 million tonnes a year.

The winning bidder, which could be named next week, would start construction of the plant on June 18 and would have 34 months to complete the work.

Bidders visited the plant in late March, Pemex said.

The tender comes as Mexico debates a government energy reform plan that seeks to increase private sector involvement in Pemex and stem declining oil production and reserves.

Mexican leftists decry the reform as an attempt to privatize Pemex, but the government says it has no such plans. (Editing by Maureen Bavdek)