Fuel Production vs. Pollution Allegations: Cadereyta's Future

Civil organization Vibra Cívica announced it will hold a press conference on Aug. 13 regarding a signature collection campaign for a popular consultation scheduled for 2025 regarding the future of the PEMEX refinery in Cadereyta. This initiative, led by Juan Carlos Pérez, will focus on residents of the municipality of San Pedro Garza García.

Vibra Cívica emphasizes that the refinery is a significant issue for the citizens of Nuevo Leon due to its impacts on health and the environment. The organization points out that the refinery emits large amounts of sulfur dioxide and fine particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10, which deteriorates air quality in Monterrey and its metropolitan area, contributing to serious health problems such as cancer and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Proponents of the consultation argue that closing the refinery could prevent annual economic losses of MX$3 billion (US$166 million), reduce daily water consumption by 11.232 million L, and ease pressure on local water resources. Additionally, they note that the refinery contaminates the soil and affects groundwater, decreasing the availability of potable water in a region with limited water resources. Vibra Cívica, according to reports from Oil and Gas Magazine, proposes to import fuels from Texas, which would reduce local pollution and allow the use of higher-quality gasoline. 

Although the State Electoral and Citizen Participation Institute denied the consultation for 2024 due to a late request, it has approved the process for 2025.

In March, the governor of Nuevo Leon, Samuel García, promised that starting in May, the refinery would cease burning fuel oil to generate energy due to the pollution it causes. However, President López Obrador defended the Cadereyta Refinery against pollution allegations. He accused other companies of causing the pollution affecting Monterrey’s metropolitan area. López Obrador stated that PEMEX has ensured that the refinery complies with regulations, adding that criticism might stem from political motives.

Claudia Sheinbaum has reaffirmed the objective of achieving energy self-sufficiency in gasoline and diesel production, a key focus of the current administration. Sheinbaum plans to maintain the strategy of bolstering the National Refining System (SNR), aiming to reduce or eliminate gasoline imports. Consequently, Sheinbaum has pledged to continue the rehabilitation of the National Refining System and has dismissed the idea of closing the Cadereyta and Tula refineries due to environmental concerns. She emphasized that this approach would help attain self-sufficiency in gasoline and other petroleum products, aligning with her vision of energy sovereignty.

The SNR reported an 11% decrease in oil processing compared to April, most significantly at the Cadereyta refinery in Nuevo Leon, which refined 89Mb/d, marking a 40.6% monthly decrease. 

Contrasting with Vibra Cívica’s approach, other activists and political figures in Monterrey are defending the Cadereyta refinery. Cecilia Cantú, activist and politician, states that the refinery is not the main cause of pollution in Nuevo Leon. She points out that the refinery has been operating for 45 years and that attempts to close it every few years respond to electoral, not environmental views. At a recent event, Carlos Murillo, former Manager, Cadereyta Refinery, indicated that 75% of the pollution in Nuevo Leon comes from industry and vehicles.

The closure of the refinery, which employs more than 20,000 people and supplies several states, would collapse the local economy, stated Edelmiro González, former Mayor, Cadereyta, who considers the closure impossible and proposes verifying the true source of pollution and keeping the refinery operational through legal solutions and proper maintenance.