Justice Plan for Cananea / Mexico-Puebla Blockade

Justice Plan for Cananea. Ten years after the spill of 40,000m³ of acidulated copper sulfate from Grupo México's Buenavista del Cobre mining complex, which the government says contaminated the Sonora and Bacanuchi rivers, impacting eight municipalities, Minister of Environment Luisa María Albores announced that the government has implemented a plan to address water contamination. 
Albores remembered that In January 2020, the Supreme Court (SCJN) ordered SEMARNAT and other authorities to reassess remediation and corrective measures following the Buenavista del Cobre spill. Previous resolutions from 2016 and 2017 were nullified, and a new document confirmed that remediation goals had not been met. Grupo México was instructed to modify its remediation plans. On July 4, 2024, President López Obrador directed SEMARNAT to work on environmental health and water rights, initiating field sampling with the Sonora River Basin committees.

The government has advanced with the settlement dialogue with Grupo México, which includes a MX$295 million (US$15.6 million) investment in water purification plants to serve 24 communities. Minister of the Interior Luisa María Alcalde said the Justice Plan also addresses the incorporation of miners from Section 65 of the National Union of Mining, Metallurgical, Iron, Steel, and Similar Workers (SNTMMSSRM) into IMSS, with 405 miners now having medical coverage and pension access. Legal disputes remain unresolved, including the demand for 5% of the profits from Grupo México's sale of shares by 3,800 workers. 

Alcalde noted there is continuous dialogue between Grupo México and the federal government. President López Obrador emphasized that the remediation process remains ongoing, with no closure until the environment is fully restored.
Agreement With Insurance Companies. López Obrador discussed the ongoing lawsuit by insurance companies against the VAT imposed during his administration, emphasizing the substantial amount owed and the need for compliance with the law. While companies argue that they cannot bear the full VAT payment, the president emphasized that the collection is legally mandated and essential for public finances. However, he also expressed willingness to reach an agreement to prevent potential bankruptcies or crises that could negatively impact policyholders.

Detention of “El Mayo” Zambada. López Obrador accused the US government of not providing Mexico with sufficient information regarding the capture of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López on July 25, 2024. He mentioned that while some basic details were shared, such as the arrival of a plane allegedly linked to Guzmán López that also had Zambada on board, no further information has been provided. He noted that Mexico's Prosecutor’s Office is conducting its investigation, but there has been no cooperation from the United States in this matter, and they are still waiting for a more detailed report.

Mexico-Puebla Highway Blockade. López Obrador reiterated that the blockade of the Mexico-Puebla highway is due to ejidatarios being misled by lawyers who are seeking to increase their compensation for the use of their land in the construction of the highway. He defended the property appraisals conducted by the government.
He explained that some lawyers are trying to profit from the situation and assured the ejidatarios that if they have a legitimate claim, they should not worry, as everyone will be compensated fairly for the damages caused by past governments. He emphasized that the appraisal office responsible for determining compensation is professional and acts with integrity, not favoring either private interests or the government. The compensation will be based on these official appraisals, and their rights will be recognized accordingly.