Background on Claudia Sheinbaum and the Refinery
Claudia Sheinbaum, the President of Mexico, recently addressed concerns regarding the new Olmeca refinery located in Dos Bocas, Tabasco. The refinery, with a capacity of 340,000 barrels per day (bpd), has yet to reach the promised processing and production levels of gasoline and diesel, set during the administration of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Despite its incomplete status, the refinery was inaugurated in 2022.
The Allegations and Claudia Sheinbaum’s Response
During a press conference, Sheinbaum was questioned about alleged “sabotage” affecting the catalyst unit of the refinery. She dismissed these claims, stating, “It’s not as you’re suggesting… There’s nothing serious.” Sheinbaum mentioned that the refinery was producing 100,000 bpd and is set to resume operations.
Refinería Olmeca’s Current Status
Pemex, the state-owned oil company, has not provided any information regarding the incident at the refinery or its current production status. According to the latest data from Pemex, Olmeca processed only 6,797 bpd in February and nothing in January due to issues with crude water and salt content. Since June 2024, production figures have been minimal.
Export of Reprocessed Diesel
Reuters reported last week that Pemex exported a cargo of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) reprocessed at Olmeca, as the infrastructure for distributing the fuel is still under development.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the current status of the Olmeca refinery? The refinery has experienced production issues, with minimal output in recent months. Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that the refinery is set to resume operations.
- What caused the production issues at Olmeca? Sheinbaum dismissed claims of sabotage, stating that the situation is minor. However, she did not provide specifics about what might have occurred at the refinery.
- Has Pemex released any information about the incident? No, Pemex has not provided details regarding the production issues or the current status of the refinery.
- Why was reprocessed diesel exported? Due to the incomplete distribution infrastructure, Pemex exported reprocessed ultra-low sulfur diesel from the Olmeca refinery.
