Fuel Theft Linked to Inadequate Permit Issuing

The surge in fuel theft, known as huachicoleo in Mexico, along with issues surrounding the quality of gasoline and the rise of self-supply practices, can be attributed to permits being issued without meeting essential requirements, according to Milenio.

Commissioner Walter Ángel highlighted that a thorough review of past authorizations revealed that 91% of permit holders seeking to sell or transfer their properties had irregularities. Efforts are underway, particularly in states like Tamaulipas, to rectify these issues and assist individuals with the necessary procedures.

"The focus on addressing these irregular cases diverted our attention from primary responsibilities such as ensuring compliance and monitoring obligations," stated Jiménez. "As a result, there was a 30% increase in adulterated gasoline, exacerbating the huachicol crisis and self-supply issues. Some individuals were granted permits without the financial capacity to manage them effectively."

" CRE was previously lenient in issuing permits, often allowing incomplete procedures," explained Jiménez. "In some cases, only one out of seven required points was addressed, leading to delays and serving the interests of a select few. As a result, many applications have been rejected due to failure to meet essential criteria."

Jiménez concluded by affirming that efforts are underway to work closely with permit holders to ensure compliance, not only in the fuel sector but also in LP gas and electricity generation. CRE has been trying to monitor the regularization of permit holders while processing new permits, a challenge the commission has dealt with since the pandemic. Nonetheless, permit holders have raised concerns over the potential fines linked to the regularization process and denounced arbitrary processes leading to additional sanctions.