PEMEX Linked to 79% of Mexico's Soil Contamination Cases

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) reported that from 2008 to 2024, Mexico has recorded 1,146 cases of soil pollution caused by hydrocarbons, affecting 17.2 million m3 of land. Of this total, 79% is attributed to PEMEX, making the state-owned company the leading contributor to environmental degradation from hazardous spills in the country.

The National Inventory of Contaminated Sites classifies 577 of these cases as environmental emergencies and 569 as environmental liabilities. According to SEMARNAT, an emergency is triggered by a sudden, uncontrolled release, fire, or explosion involving hazardous substances that immediately affect human health or the environment. An environmental liability refers to contamination that was not remediated in time and presents long-term risks, including the lingering effects of past emergencies.

PEMEX alone is responsible for 668 contamination events, representing 58% of all recorded cases, which have impacted over 13.6 million m3 of soil, equivalent to 78.9% of the total volume affected nationally. The largest single event occurred in 2012 at the PEMEXrefinery in Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas, where a spill contaminated 8.8 million m3 of soil, more than half the total volume attributed to the company.

Despite recurring incidents, remediation efforts have fallen short. Of the 1,146 total cases, 259 (22.6%) do not have an approved remediation plan. The lack of consistent environmental accountability has resulted in persistent soil degradation and heightened risks for surrounding communities.

In addition to PEMEX, over 300 public and private entities have contributed to the problem, including globally recognized firms. Companies such as Kansas City Southern de México, ExxonMobil Comercial, Volkswagen de México, Telcel, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Bombardier Transportation, Braskem Idesa, and Shell México have collectively registered 20 contamination cases between 2008 and 2021. These incidents have affected at least 343,080 m3 of soil.

Experts have emphasized the need for stronger regulatory frameworks and transparency. The current lack of publicly available, comprehensive remediation reports limits public oversight and undermines environmental governance. Without clear accountability mechanisms, progress in reversing contamination will remain slow and insufficient.

The scope of PEMEX’s environmental impact reflects a deeper challenge in aligning public enterprise operations with sustainability goals. Addressing these issues will require structural reforms that prioritize transparency, regulatory compliance, and effective environmental repair strategies.