A Scottish university has been asked to lend its expertise to the Mexican oil industry.

The Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen will create a plan to solve a growing skills gap in the country's energy workforce.

Mexico is one of the world's top oil producers and needs to recruit about 135,000 new skilled workers by 2030, according to the latest estimates.

Professor Paul de Leeuw, director of RGU's Oil and Gas Institute, said: "Energy reform in Mexico presents huge opportunities for the Mexican oil and gas sector.

"RGU is delighted to undertake this important review on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and to advise the Mexican Government on skills development options for Mexico."

The project will be funded by the British Embassy in Mexico as part of the now-defunct Prosperity Fund initiative, which was created to promote work overseas.

The British Ambassador to Mexico, Duncan Taylor, said: "We aim to build a strong partnership that promotes an open, robustly-regulated Mexican energy sector with significant British collaboration.

"The UK is a global centre of energy excellence and we hope our experience can contribute to the successful implementation of Mexico's new energy markets."

RGU recently joined a programme which will allow Mexican students to study oil and gas-related masters degrees and PhDs at the university.