PEMEX, JICA to Boost Energy Efficiency at Cadereyta Refinery

PEMEX has launched an energy efficiency project at its Cadereyta refinery in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The initiative, which began operations last week, is part of a technical association formalized in 2023 and aims to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions at one of PEMEX’s key refining facilities in Nuevo Leon. The project focuses on improving industrial management through upgrades to existing control systems rather than large-scale capacity expansion.

According to PEMEX, the project is in a critical execution stage that includes system integration, validation of operational results, and evaluation of energy savings. The technical objective is to increase efficiency by optimizing the performance of the refinery’s Distributed Control System, allowing for better monitoring and adjustment of energy-intensive processes.

As part of the collaboration with JICA and its technical arm, JICA-ADAPTEX, PEMEX has completed physical upgrades at the Cadereyta refinery, including the rehabilitation of the Combinada 1 unit, which handles primary and vacuum distillation. Work has also been carried out on direct-fired heaters, alongside the installation of oxygen analyzers designed to improve combustion quality and reduce fuel consumption.

Additional efforts have included control engineering and process optimization, jointly developed by PEMEX and JICA experts. These measures aim to generate measurable energy savings while supporting more stable refinery operations.

During a technical visit by the Japanese delegation to the PEMEX Administrative Center, Víctor Rodríguez, CEO, PEMEX, underscored the all-encompassing importance of sustainability across its operations. “Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions is a strategic priority for the company,” says Rodríguez. 

PEMEX executives described the collaboration as a potential reference model for the broader energy sector. Carlos Lechuga, Director of Industrial Processes, PEMEX, says the initiative goes beyond a single facility. “This will not only represent progress for the Cadereyta refinery, but will also leave a model for the energy industry,” Lechuga says. He adds that the adoption of these technologies supports a transition toward operations that are “more efficient, safer, and more sustainable.”

The Cadereyta initiative is also expected to inform similar efforts at other PEMEX facilities. The project reflects a broader effort by PEMEX to align its infrastructure with global trends emphasizing energy efficiency and emissions reduction, particularly as international scrutiny of oil and gas operations increases. 

PEMEX has yet to disclose specific targets for energy savings or emissions reductions associated with the Cadereyta project. However, company officials say that performance indicators will be assessed as part of the ongoing validation phase.

JICA: A Force for Sustainability Within Mexico

Since its establishment in 1974, JICA has engaged in technical cooperation with Mexico to support sustainability in the agriculture, aquaculture, and industrial sectors. In 2024, JICA signed an agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) to expand technical cooperation projects in agriculture, aiming to promote sustainable social and commercial agriculture and replicate successful practices throughout Latin America. 

As part of the work tour earlier that year led by Tesushi Sakamoto, Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF), SADER representatives and members of the Japanese company Meiji, held a meeting to learn more about the investment plans for the expansion of a cocoa plantation in Tapachula, Chiapas. In addition, a group of agribusiness stakeholders met with Farmind Corporation, in charge of importing avocados, bananas, and citrus fruits.

The two parties involved also evaluated maritime and agricultural research projects developed in regions across Mexico. These included the reactivation of initiatives in silkworm production with small producers and artisans, and cooperation in underwater research at the Sea of ​​Cortes, aimed at exploring the fishing potential and supporting activities of coastal fishermen from Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. Officials also discussed the construction of artificial reefs in La Paz, Baja California Sur, and aquaponics combined with agriculture, a program in which the universities of Tokyo and Tottori participate with the Northwest Biological Research Center (CIBNOR) of Baja California Sur.