MEXICO CITY, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Mexican state oil

company Pemex will curb the activity of its

exploration and production arm in the last quarter of the year

as it seeks to save up to 26.8 billion pesos ($1.35 billion), an

internal document showed on Friday.

In deferring spending at PEP, as the arm is known, the

heavily indebted company is seeking to "optimize resources," the

letter said, through postponing some planned works and

acquisitions until 2025.

The internal company letter was signed by Nestor Martinez, a

former senior official at the hydrocarbon commission, who was

appointed by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to lead the

exploration and production arm. It is dated Oct. 11.

Until the end of the year, Pemex will prioritize investments

in higher-producing wells, the letter said. It will defer some

administrative and production work, including covering wells and

acquiring seismic equipment needed for exploration.

Pemex did not immediately respond to a request for comment

on what prompted the spending cuts, and how it would affect

crude oil production.

Under the six-year administration of President Sheinbaum,

who took office on Oct. 1, Pemex will seek to maintain average

crude oil production of 1.8 million barrels per day.

Pemex currently produces on average 1.5 million bpd of oil.

Adding condensate, a natural gas liquid that is similar to a

very light crude oil, its production is 1.8 million bpd.

Despite efforts to reduce debt under Sheinbaum's predecessor

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the company carries financial debt

of about $100 billion and provider debt of about $20 billion.