Overview
- Mexico’s government, which announced the shift on Wednesday, launched a technical review and will seat a committee of water, geology and environmental experts to assess if newer extraction methods are viable.
- President Claudia Sheinbaum said the plan rules out high‑impact approaches associated with traditional fracking and keeps any move contingent on science, costs and strict safeguards.
- Officials said Mexico uses about 9,000 million cubic feet of gas per day, Pemex produces roughly 2,300, and about 75% is imported from the United States, a gap that exposes the country to price swings and supply risks.
- Government projections outline a step‑up in output, with Pemex targeting about 4,049 million cubic feet per day by the end of the term and modeling a possible shale start in 2028 near 280 million, rising further by 2030–2035 if the review endorses it.
- Mitigation under study includes using non‑potable water, recycling up to 80% of fluids, biodegradable additives, closed waste systems and continuous sensors, paired with a push to lift renewable power generation from about 24% to 38%.