Mine Workers Rescuing Efforts/Internet for Everyone

Rescue of mine workers. National Coordinator of Civil Protection Laura Velázquez Alzúa assured that Mexican authorities are hours away from rescuing the 10 workers trapped in the coal mine in Coahuila. “It has been an intense week. We are completing 1,588 continuous hours of work. Soon we will have an evaluation meeting with SEDENA and we expect rescuers to be able to enter anytime today."

On August 3, 15 miners were working at a depth of 60m in the coal mine located in Sabinas, Coahuila, when the walls of the tunnels collapsed, flooding the three pits. For a week, the authorities have been draining the water to enter the mine and rescue the miners, whose health status remains unknown. At the time of the accident, five of the 15 mine workers managed to escape. Currently, the relatives of the victims have complained about the lack of transparency and progress of the authorities.

Internet for everyone. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced an investment of MX$30 billion (US$1.51 billion) for the last stage of “Internet para Todos” and stressed that it will be the workers of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) who will help provide this national coverage.  “We want to guarantee internet and cell signal for everyone. We are going to ask the Mexican electricians to take charge of the project."

In 2019, the subsidiary CFE Telecomunicaciones e Internet para Todos was created, its objective is to guarantee the right of access to information and communication technologies, especially broadband and the internet. In 2020, the CFE invested MX$11,000 million (US$552.13 million) in the new program. The goal of 1H23 is to install 2,500 antennas and connect the most marginalized areas of the country. The government, together with the Altánse company, has installed 70 percent of the general network.

Drought in Nuevo Leon. López Obrador announced that he will visit Nuevo León to further address the state´s water crisis. The president will also propose new projects that could lead to a new source of water “I am going to visit El Cuchillo dam, there is already an aqueduct there. However, there is not enough water. Another aqueduct must be built with the support of the federal and state governments. It will allow to have up to 5,000 liters per second. We want to do it as soon as possible."

Monterrey, the second largest city in the country with a population of 5.3 million, has been declared in extreme drought since the beginning of the year. However, July has been the month where access to water has been most difficult. Currently, the citizens only have six hours a day of water pumping to ration the state's reserves, which are less than 5 percent. On July 29, president López Obrador signed a decree to guarantee water supply.

The president said that the government was seeking help from companies and entrepreneurs to finish the El Cuchillo Aqueduct in eight to 10 months, since it is the best solution in the medium and long term. Head of the National Water Commission (CONAGUA), Germán Martinez Santoyo, said that financing of the aqueduct with an investment of MX$15.7 billion is the goal for the medium term. The company Banobras will contribute with MX$7.85 billion, state authorities will pay MX$4.71 billion, and municipal authorities will financeMX$3.14 billion.