PEMEX, Far Behind its 2019 Refining Goals
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PEMEX, Far Behind its 2019 Refining Goals

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Ricardo Guzman By Ricardo Guzman | Editor - Thu, 02/06/2020 - 17:23

The National Refining System (SNR) processed 2.1 times less crude oil in 2019 than it did ten years ago, according to the latest Ministry of Energy crude oil processing report.

Despite the MX$25 billion (approx. US$1.34 billion) investment announced for the modernization of the SNR, its six refineries closed 2019 with an annual production drop of 3.1 percent, recording its sixth straight year of setbacks. Last year, an average of 592,010 barrels per day were transformed into fuels with the SNR working at the modest production capacity of 36.1 percent; its lowest level in 30 years.

While the PEMEX Business Plan 2019-2023 contemplated a processing goal of 643,000 barrels per day, which required the SNR to work at 39.2 percent of its installed capacity, the volume processed was 7.9 percent below the projection.

Minister of Energy Rocío Nahle’s goal of 900,000 barrels per day was also missed by 34 percent while PEMEX Director General Octavio Romero’s projection of 600,000 barrels per day fell short by 1.3 percent, according to an El Economista report.

Despite last year’s negative result, it represented the smallest drop in the SNR’s processing figures since 2013. Since 2013, the SNR’s average processing capacity has decreased almost 13 percent each year, with 2018’s 20 percent processing plunge the standout.

The six facilities of the SNR saw varying performances in 2019. Cadereyta (Nuevo León) functioned at 37.5 percent capacity to process 103,235 barrels per day in 2019, a 12.4 percent drop compared to the previous year.

Madero (Tamaulipas) functioned at 30.5 percent of its capacity and processed 58,038 barrels per day, an annual increase of 203 percent after the previous year’s stoppage.

Minatitlán (Veracruz) also had several months of stoppage in 2018. In 2019, the refinery increased its processing by 250 percent with a daily processing average of 91,605 barrels while working to 37.2 percent of its installed capacity.

Salamanca (Guanajuato) recorded a production drop of 34 percent with 92,874 barrels per day, working at 37.9 percent capacity.

Meanwhile, Salina Cruz’s (Oaxaca) production fell 24 percent to process 125,104 barrels per day at a 37.9 percent of its capacity. Tula (Hidalgo) also fell 15 percent, processing on average 121,154 barrels per day and a utilizing 38.4 percent of its installed capacity.

In 2009 SNR production reached almost 1.3 million barrels per day with refineries working at 79 percent of its capacity.

Photo by:   Presidencia de la República

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