Salina Cruz Urges PEMEX to Act on Repeated La Ventosa Spills

Local authorities in Salina Cruz are seeking a coordinated response from PEMEX following a string of hydrocarbon spills in Bahía La Ventosa, including the most recent on July 14. At a meeting held in the municipal council chambers, Mayor Daniel Méndez convened naval officials, PEMEX representatives, and residents of La Ventosa to address the environmental and economic fallout.

The Municipal Ecology Office reported 47 hydrocarbon leaks in the region since 2022, 20 of them in 2025 alone, including six affecting La Ventosa. Eight of these leaks have been in urban areas while the other 12 have been coastal spills. Formal complaints have been filed with ASEA, the federal agency overseeing environmental and safety compliance in the hydrocarbons sector.

Fisherfolk from the Barra del Río de Tehuantepec cooperative voiced growing concern over the damage to marine ecosystems and livelihoods. Community representatives urged PEMEX to fully replace the damaged pipeline as a preventive and socially responsible measure.

Vice Admiral Carlos Jiménez Leal, Commander of the Naval Region, also attended the session alongside Francisco García from the Social Responsibility Management PEMEX team and representatives of the Salina Cruz Refinery. Local officials reiterated their commitment to environmental stewardship and protecting coastal communities economically dependent on the sea.