Mexico's government submitted a constitutional reform to raise state control of the electricity market. The reform, announced by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, envisages assigning the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) more than half of the energy market and making it responsible for setting terms for private generators. The bill that the president referred to Congress would also reserve future lithium extraction for the state and do away with energy regulators, grouping their functions under the Ministry of Energy and the CFE. Eight current concessions to extract the metal would remain in private hands if companies are "able to develop the industry".

The elimination of independent regulators has attracted a number of criticisms, including from some supporters of the president. According to analysts, the reform also would violate Mexico's free trade and climate change agreements. The companies allege the president's plan creates a government monopoly, hurts competition and will make Mexicans buy dirtier and more expensive electricity.

The proposal needed a two-thirds vote in Congress to be approved. On 18 April 2022, the deputies failed to pass the electricity reform.

However, on the following day, lawmakers approved López Obrador's mining law reform, which intends to nationalize the exploration and mining of lithium.

Around two weeks earlier, the academician Violeta Núñez and the journalist Ernesto Ledezma received threats after the publication of the report "Mexico: lithium uncovered", which highlights the network of interests behind a campaign that opposes the lithium nationalization project.