PEMEX, ASEA Sign Pact to Boost Hydrocarbon Regulation

PEMEX and the Mexican Agency for Safety, Energy and Environment (ASEA) have signed a collaboration agreement to strengthen environmental protection in the hydrocarbons sector through joint emission control and monitoring. The agreement includes deploying mobile laboratories, conducting training programs and workshops, and exchanging technical and scientific information. ASEA Executive Director Armando Ocampo Zambrano emphasized that the agency will reinforce oversight and sanctions for environmental non-compliance, calling the agreement “a real commitment toward cleaner air and stronger regulations.”

The initiative builds on ASEA’s July 17 agreement with SEMARNAT, which established monitoring requirements for service stations to reduce Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) released during fuel storage and dispensing. Measures include mandatory periodic fuel sampling, testing by accredited laboratories, and the submission of quarterly or semiannual reports to ASEA. The agency retains authority to conduct inspections and apply penalties for noncompliance.

 These agreements with PEMEX and SEMARNAT form part of Commitment 93 under President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Second Level of Transformation, targeting air pollution in highly contaminated urban areas. They also support Objective 4.3 of the 2025–2030 National Development Plan, which seeks to lower pollutant emissions and enhance climate resilience through preventive, control, and mitigation actions for public health and ecosystems.

Energy Minister Luz Elena González Escobar, who oversaw the ASEA–PEMEX signing, said the agreement moves the country toward “a cleaner and more sustainable Mexico,” emphasizing that environmental protection is a guiding principle across all sectors, especially energy. Marina Robles García, Subsecretary of Biodiversity and Environmental Restoration at SEMARNAT, highlighted that the deal builds on coordinated efforts between the energy and environment ministries, advancing a productive and equitable approach to environmental protection and public health.

PEMEX CEO Víctor Rodríguez Padilla noted that the agreement leverages the company’s technical, scientific, and operational capabilities, including mobile labs for on-site measurement, capacity-building programs, and systematic technical data exchange. These measures are expected to strengthen emissions monitoring, optimize processes, and eliminate practices harmful to health or ecosystems.

The agreement follows PEMEX’s 2024 Sustainability Report, which reported a 5.5% reduction in Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions, falling to 57.6 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent. The reduction is attributed to increased use of natural gas in exploration, production, and processing, along with energy efficiency projects. PEMEX remains on track for net-zero emissions by 2050.

While the report and the ASEA–PEMEX agreement indicate progress in reducing emissions, critics argue that PEMEX’s efforts remain insufficient. A 2024 investigation by Mexico Evalúa found that PEMEX invests only 4.3% of annual revenue in ESG initiatives, far below what is needed to achieve net-zero emissions. Institutional and ESG investors have expressed similar skepticism, with the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund excluding PEMEX from its portfolio in May due to environmental concerns.