INAI Orders More Transparency From PEMEX

The National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information, and Protection of Personal Data (INAI) has ordered PEMEX to provide detailed information on its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions for the 2021-2024 period. The decision follows a citizen’s complaint regarding the lack of access to specific data on PEMEX's progress toward reducing Scope 1 emissions.

The complaint centered on PEMEX’s partial response to a request for emissions data related to its exploration, production, gas processing, and refining processes. While the company referred the applicant to general reports on its website, it failed to supply a detailed breakdown, as requested, by type of gas, process, facility, and time period (month and year).

INAI Commissioner Blanca Lilia Ibarra highlighted the importance of transparency in public administration, particularly regarding critical environmental issues like emissions monitoring. “Transparency should not be limited to publishing links to general information. It must ensure access to specific, usable, and easily consultable data that meets the needs of citizens,” Ibarra stated during the resolution of the appeal.

INAI instructed PEMEX to conduct a thorough search for the requested information and to deliver it in a format that includes clear steps for verification and access. This decision underscores the growing demand for accountability in environmental sustainability commitments.

PEMEX’s stated goal is to achieve a reduction in the intensity of its Scope 1 emissions by 2030. The requested data is expected to detail emissions reductions initiatives across various stages of its operations, providing insight into progress toward meeting its climate objectives.

INAI’s Future Under Threat

INAI itself faces an uncertain future, with Congress moving forward on plans to disband the regulatory body. President Claudia Sheinbaum has assured the public that INAI’s potential dissolution will not compromise access to information. “INAI disappearing does not mean that transparency will end in the government. On the contrary, we will be much stricter,” she said during a recent press conference.

Critics, however, argue that transparency has already weakened. For example, the Ministry of Economy’s previously comprehensive database of mining concessions has been significantly reduced. Once accessible nationwide, the database now only contains information for San Luis Potosi, illustrating the risks of limited oversight and reduced data accessibility.