Tamaulipas Seeks Climate Law Reform to Prioritize Carbon Capture

Tamaulipas state lawmaker Ana Laura Huerta Valdovinos (Morena) has introduced a proposal to reform the state’s Climate Change Law in line with Mexico’s General Climate Change Law. The initiative seeks to position the state as a regional hub for carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS).

The proposed reform would introduce a legal definition of CCUS aligned with international standards. It would recognize CCUS as a priority mitigation strategy and establish a State Program for Carbon Capture, Use and Storage, including targets, lines of action, pilot projects and evaluation mechanisms. The initiative would also mandate coordination on mitigation efforts among state public agencies, including the ministries of energy, environment and economy.

In addition, the reform would further formalize the role of academia and research centers in scientific projects, geological mapping, data development and technological innovation, while fully harmonizing state law with national climate policy and the UN 2030 Agenda.

According to Huerta, updating the state’s Climate Change Law would allow Tamaulipas to contribute more effectively to Mexico’s national emissions-reduction targets and international climate commitments, while also supporting sectoral mitigation strategies. She noted that the absence of a clear regulatory framework has limited the state’s ability to attract investment, foster technological innovation and meet environmental objectives.

The lawmaker outlined four key competitive advantages that could position Tamaulipas as a leader in CCUS if the proposal is enacted. First, the state has a robust energy profile, hosting oil and natural gas production, electricity generation and renewable energy projects, along with the industrial and logistics infrastructure needed to support such a mix. Second, Tamaulipas is home to some of Mexico’s leading universities and research centers, providing the scientific capacity needed to drive CCUS innovation. Third, the state’s proximity to the North American market places it close to a region where CCUS deployment is rapidly expanding. Finally, Tamaulipas’ unique geological characteristics—particularly its large saline aquifers—offer significant carbon storage potential, making it suitable for the development of CCUS hubs.

Huerta said updating the law is “not only relevant, but indispensable,” emphasizing the need for coordinated action among government, companies and society in line with the UN 2030 Agenda.

Carbon Storage Potential in Tamaulipas

According to a 2023 study published in the International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, the Tampico-Misantla Basin in southeastern Tamaulipas shows strong potential as a large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) site. The study finds that the basin, one of Mexico’s major oil-producing regions, could safely store up to 2,128.6 million metric tons of CO₂ (mtCO₂) across two deep saline aquifer systems.

Even under conservative assumptions, the identified storage volumes suggest that CCS could play a meaningful role in helping Mexico meet its emissions-reduction commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement. However, the analysis also highlights uncertainties at the basin scale, including technical assumptions as well as techno-economic and social factors that could affect project development.

Through a basin-wide geological assessment, researchers identified two candidate formations for CO₂ storage: the Cretaceous Tamaulipas Formation and the Jurassic Cahuasas Formation. A total of 23 criteria were applied using a weighted numerical scoring system to map storage suitability on a normalized scale. Based on the volume of aquifers meeting this threshold, the basin’s effective storage capacity is estimated at between 972.3 million and 1,346.0 million mtCO₂.