PEMEX Bans President’s Family From Tender

PEMEX published an international public tender for the inspection of GOM platforms which included a provision banning any company connected to the family of President López Obrador from participating. This was done in response to public outcry in 2020 when a contract was given to Litoral Laboratorios Industriales, a company owned by Felipa Guadalupe Obrador, the president’s cousin, reports Tabasco Hoy. 

Ready for more? Here’s the Week in Oil & Gas!

Lozoya Jailed as Corruption Case Moves Forward

Emilio Lozoya, the former Director General of PEMEX accused of taking bribes and managing corruption schemes during the Peña Nieto administration, has now been placed in preventive custody. He has entered the Reclusorio Norte jail in Mexico City. A judge issued the order to detain Lozoya and transfer him to prison after federal prosecutors working on the Odebrecht case determined that Lozoya was attempting to “delay and block the process against him” and that he possessed the financial means necessary to be a flight risk. Throughout this process, Lozoya has declared himself innocent and insisted that he is cooperating with authorities to “undo the damage that took place during his time at PEMEX.”

Another Former PEMEX Director General Headed to Jail?

A federal judge has ordered the arrest of Carlos Treviño, PEMEX Director General from Nov. 27 2017 to Dec. 1st 2018 and the direct predecessor of current PEMEX Director General Octavio Romero. The arrest order followed Treviño’s failure to show up at a court hearing back in Sep. 7 regarding accusations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering made against him. Treviño’s lawyer Óscar Zamudio has already spoken to the public and has made it clear that his client is only guilty of “failing to follow the whim of a judge” by not showing up to the hearing and that the arrest order was publicized in the media but never formally communicated to him. Furthermore, Zamudio also claims that Treviño is currently in Texas and thus outside of the arrest order’s jurisdiction. Interpol has also issued a warrant, or “red notice”, for his arrest. 

US Congressmen Accuse Mexico’s Government of Discrimination In Its Fuel Markets

US Congressmen have reiterated their criticism of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s energy policies, accusing them of being flagrant violations of the USMCA’s provisions regarding the fuel markets. More than 40 US Congress representatives have sent a new letter to Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm, State Secretary Anthony J. Blinken, Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo, and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai urging the Biden administration to intervene in order to have Mexico comply with the USMCA. They claim that, through the use of “selective authority,” the Mexican government has impeded, and in some cases completely blocked, the participation of the US private sector in Mexico’s fuel markets.

Tula Coker Plant Investment Announced

President López Obrador announced Sunday a MX$60 billion investment for a coker plant in the refinery complex in Tula, Hidalgo. This is considered only the latest in a series of government actions aimed to achieve the administration’s promise in regards to energy sovereignty. During a visit to the Tula refinery complex, as part of -a tour of the country’s refineries to supervise rehabilitation efforts and worker’s conditions, the president said he hopes these refineries will meet the domestic demand for fuels and gasoline without having to rely on imports. Approximately 8,000 jobs will be created and once the refinery is functional, it is expected to produce an additional 30,000 barrels of gasoline per day.