Tamaulipas Calls for Technical Debate on Fracking

During the Tamaulipas International Energy Congress 2025, unconventional resources were back at the center of the energy debate. Walter Ángel, Minister of Energy Development, Tamaulipas, urged Mexico to move beyond political stigma and discuss hydraulic fracturing from a strictly technical and energy-security perspective.

Ángel, a former commissioner at the now-defunct CRE, said that fracking in Mexico has been treated as a taboo subject for years, even though the technique is not prohibited under Mexican law. According to the official, the halt in unconventional development resulted from a political decision rather than a legal restriction. He argued that reviving the discussion is essential for strengthening the country’s natural gas supply and reducing dependence on imports.

He emphasized that unconventional development demands strong technical, financial, and operational capabilities, as well as explicit support in public policy. He said that these elements must be aligned if Mexico is to consider advancing in the Burgos Basin or the Tampico-Misantla region, both of which he described as strategic “centers of gravity” for future development.

He also addressed the two most prominent concerns surrounding fracking in Mexico: induced microseismic activity and high water use. Ángel argued that much of the criticism emerged at a time when the country lacked adequate baseline seismic data. Today, monitoring capabilities have improved significantly, allowing authorities and operators to better evaluate any changes associated with industrial activity. He also highlighted technological advances that have made water management more efficient, reducing the environmental burden of hydraulic fracturing projects.

The minister pointed to research led by the Mexican Oil Institute, which is evaluating stimulation techniques that rely on carbon dioxide injection rather than large volumes of water. These methods, he said, could meaningfully lower environmental impacts while contributing to carbon capture and storage objectives.

The remarks in Tamaulipas follow increasing technical discussions among independent operators and service companies in Mexico. Industry leaders note that unconventional development can be carried out responsibly when supported by modern engineering standards, transparent regulation, strong supervision, and rigorous community engagement. Several onshore operators have argued that Mexico’s geological formations share characteristics with US plays that have been successfully developed under strict regulatory oversight. They also emphasized that the absence of clear and stable policy has been a greater obstacle than geology or technology.

Mexico’s national energy planning currently prioritizes natural gas supply as a strategic objective, especially given the country’s growing industrial base and persistent reliance on pipeline imports from the United States. While the current administration has maintained caution on fracking, it has also underscored the need to enhance natural gas security, diversify supply sources, and evaluate all available options. The discussion in Tamaulipas aligns with that broader agenda, although no federal policy shift has been announced.

For Tamaulipas, reopening the debate is a matter of pragmatism. State officials argue that the energy transition, industrial growth, and the country’s economic competitiveness will depend in part on the availability of reliable gas supply. They say that ignoring unconventional resources on political grounds would leave potential domestic reserves untapped at a time when global and regional demand continues to rise.

While national political resistance to fracking remains strong, Ángel insisted that the conversation must evolve. He said that Mexico now has better data, more advanced technology, and a stronger institutional understanding of environmental risks than it did a decade ago