Overview
- A 54‑member scientific committee presented ten preliminary recommendations on Thursday and President Claudia Sheinbaum said the government will use them as policy guidance rather than start commercial production.
- The panel recommended a formal ban on fracking in the Tampico‑Misantla basin and limited further study to the Burgos and Sabinas‑Burro‑Picachos basins in Coahuila, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas.
- Experts insisted any activity must avoid fresh water by verifying exclusive use of deep saline groundwater through hydrogeological wells, require at least 75% water recycling and maintain permanent independent monitoring of aquifers and seismic activity.
- The presidency ordered exploratory hydrogeological wells to confirm saline water and assess gas reserves, pledged a public digital platform for data and regular updates, and required prior, free and informed consultations with affected communities.
- An unconfirmed media report says initial tests could start in September in sites in Coahuila and Tamaulipas but the government frames upcoming work as investigative water and reserve verification, not commercial extraction.