PEMEX’s Olmeca Refinery Wins Award Amid Output Challenges

PEMEX has earned international recognition for its Olmeca Refinery in Tabasco, securing third place in the International Project Management Association (IPMA) 2025 awards for megaprojects. The accolade, presented in Berlin, highlights the refinery’s planning, execution, and operational efficiency, positioning it as one of the world’s leading large-scale energy projects.

According to PEMEX, the award reflects the efforts of managers, engineers, and workers involved in constructing and commissioning the facility, which the company describes as a cornerstone of Mexico’s energy sovereignty. The Olmeca Refinery is uniquely designed to process 100% Maya crude oil (+/- 22° API) and integrates 17 state-of-the-art processing units. These facilities produce a range of petroleum products, including PEMEX Magna and Premium gasoline, ultra-low sulfur diesel (DUBA), ecological diesel (DECO), LPG, sulfur, coke, and propylene. The refinery is Mexico’s sole producer of ecological diesel, supplying fuel to the Yucatan Peninsula and supporting the Tren Maya project.

Despite the recognition, Olmeca’s operational output has faced challenges. Crude processing dropped from 156Mb/d in July to 133Mb/d in August, a 14.7% decline, and remains well below the June peak of 191Mb/d. Production represents just under 40% of the refinery’s intended capacity of 340Mb/d, significantly lower than the 80%–90% utilization rates typical in the refining sector.