Canadian Mining Companies/El Chapo’s Request

Mayan Train. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador emphasized that the Mayan Train will operate responsibly and will not pollute the region. In addition, he stressed that once the project is operational, the profits will be used to pay pensions and retirements for ISSSTE workers and the armed forces.

Last week, President López Obrador reported the Mayan Train will run on “non-polluting diesel” from Palenque to Chetumal. He explained this diesel will be imported to the Yucatan Peninsula from the Deer Park refinery in the US. The president detailed that the diesel has low sulfur content and will be also distributed throughout the whole peninsula, as well as the states of Chiapas and Tabasco. The Mayan Train is expected to work under a hybrid system of electricity and fuel. 

Canadian mining companies. López Obrador stressed that Canadian mining companies have been very responsible with the environment, have payed their taxes and have a good social impact. “Fortunately, most of the Canadian mining companies are helping us not to destroy the land and take care of the environment. They are the ones who earn the most and help the communities the most.”

In addition, the president highlighted agreements were reached on the electrical projects of Canadian companies. He stressed that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau fully understood Mexico's position on these issues. “There is dialogue and good friendship. The opponents and the media always say that there is a confrontation but there is not.”

Since Canada is the third largest investor in Mexico, attending USMCA consultations on energy matters as well as providing certainty to investors and companies in the mining sector weremain priorities at the North American Leaders Summit. Currently, 35 percent of Canadian investment in Mexico goes to the mining sector, which represents two-thirds of all foreign investments in the sector. 

Government analyzes 'El Chapo's request'. López Obrador said that the request of the drug trafficker Joaquín El Chapo Guzmán to return to Mexico, is being reviewed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE). “The Ministry is handling it. Chapo's lawyer said that he had already submitted a request to the Mexican ambassador to the US. The ambassador sent us the request and we are analyzing it”.

José Rodríguez, "Chapo's" lawyer, said his client feels mistreated in the US facilities and abandoned by Mexican authorities, since they had the obligation to review his statusevery six months. However, it has not been done. In addition, "El Chapo" accused the government of Peña Nieto of violations in his extradition to the US, for which he asked López Obrador to repair the damage and return him to Mexico to serve his sentence.