Sinaloa to Host US$3.3 Billion Green Methanol Plant

Sinaloa is set to become a hub for green energy production with the construction of Mexinol Pacifico, the world’s largest green methanol plant in Topolobampo, Ahome. The US$3.3 billion project will position the state as a leader in sustainable fuel development, Governor Rubén Rocha Moya said.

Rocha announced the project during a meeting in Mexico City, where agreements were signed to launch construction. The initiative is backed by the US government, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank, and private firms including Samsung, Techint, and Grupo Maire, which will oversee construction. Attendees included Rommel Gallo, CEO, Transition Industries LLC; Ronald Johnson, US Ambassador to Mexico; Huh Tae-wan, South Korea’s Ambassador; and Alessandro Modiano, Italy’s Ambassador.

“This is a transformative investment, both environmentally and economically,” Rocha said. “It represents US$3.3 billion dedicated to producing transition fuels that move us away from fossil fuels and toward a cleaner future.”

The plant will produce 350,000 mt of green methanol and 1.8 million mt of blue methanol annually, equivalent to 6,130 mt per day. Methanol is emerging as a cleaner fuel option for shipping, transport, and industrial applications.

Officials expect the project to deliver not only environmental gains but also regional development, creating jobs and long-term benefits for Ahome’s largely indigenous population. Rocha called it a step toward “social justice through clean energy.”

Still, not all industrial projects in the region have been welcomed. A separate ammonia plant promoted by Gas y Petroquímica de Occidente (GPO) has faced legal challenges from Mayo-Yoremé communities, who cite risks to fishing grounds and biodiversity. Although a federal court upheld the plant’s approval, opposition remains strong. 

Together, the ammonia project, Mexinol Pacífico, and other planned facilities make up the Polo del Bienestar, a centerpiece of the federal Plan México, expected to channel US$13 billion into Ahome and cement its role as one of Mexico’s 14 strategic development hubs.