SEMARNAT Meets Mayo-Yoremé Over Sinaloa Ammonia Plant

A delegation from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) met with indigenous Mayo-Yoremé communities from Paredones, Ohuira, Lazaro Cardenas, and Juan Jose Rios to address concerns about the construction of an ammonia plant in Ahome, Sinaloa. Representatives from the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) and the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI) also participated.

The four communities had opposed the plant during a legally mandated indigenous consultation in 2023. However, the project was considered approved, as 11 other villages expressed support.

Following the approval, the dissenting communities—located closest to the plant—filed a lawsuit citing potential risks to local fishing, biodiversity, and coastal ecosystems. They noted ammonia’s high toxicity and raised questions about the environmental review process that allowed Gas y Petroquímica de Occidente (GPO) to obtain approval.

Federal authorities conducted an on-site tour of the bay to assess the plant’s construction and environmental impact. SEMARNAT stated that the review will adhere to transparency and accountability principles under Mexico’s Humanist Ecological and Environmental Policy, with authorities analyzing all relevant files and legal cases to ensure compliance.

The delegation included Jaime Vázquez Bracho, head of SEMARNAT’s Unit for Priority Projects, Social Engagement, and Human Rights; Alfredo Arellano Guillermo, general director of the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone and Coastal Environments; Iván Ramos Méndez, head, INPI’s General Coordination of Indigenous Rights; Renato Ocampo Alcantar, SEMARNAT’s local representative; and Marco Antonio Moreno, PROFEPA’s regional representative.

The agencies emphasized the importance of ongoing dialogue with local communities to develop strategies that protect environmental health and sustainable livelihoods. “Protecting ecosystems while addressing community concerns is central to our approach,” the delegation said.