Mexico’s Olmeca Refinery Will Restart and Halt Was ‘Nothing Serious,’ President Says

Mexico’s Olmeca refinery, located at the port of Dos Bocas, is prepared to resume production following a temporary outage, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced during a press conference. She clarified that the interruption was not due to sabotage of the refinery’s catalytic cracking unit, a critical component that uses a fluidized catalyst to convert heavy hydrocarbons into gasoline.

The logo of Mexican state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) is pictured at a gas station in Mexico City, Mexico July 31, 2024.

Addressing concerns about the facility’s operations, Sheinbaum stated: “It’s not about the refinery suddenly not working. It’s a smaller issue.” She noted that the refinery had been producing 100,000 barrels per day before the pause and is expected to restart soon, emphasizing that the situation is not significant. “There’s nothing serious,” she added. The president mentioned she would request a detailed report from a Pemex official to provide further clarity on the matter.

The Olmeca refinery, operated by state-owned Pemex, has yet to achieve the gasoline and diesel production targets set by Sheinbaum’s predecessor. In February, the facility processed only 6,797 barrels per day, with no output in January due to elevated salt and water content in the crude oil supplied by Pemex. The refinery has a designed capacity of 340,000 barrels per day, but its processing levels have remained low since June 2024.

Recently, Pemex exported two shipments of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) produced at Olmeca, as the necessary infrastructure to distribute this fuel domestically is still under development. Mexico relies heavily on imported motor fuel, and the lack of distribution systems has limited the refinery’s ability to meet local demand. Pemex did not provide additional details regarding the outage, specific incidents, or current production levels when requested.

Sheinbaum addressed speculation about sabotage during the press conference, firmly denying such claims: “It’s not like that.” While she did not elaborate on the cause of the outage, her remarks underscored confidence in the refinery’s imminent return to operation. The Olmeca refinery remains a key component of Mexico’s energy strategy, aimed at enhancing domestic fuel production and reducing reliance on imports.

The restart of the Olmeca refinery is a step toward stabilizing its operations, though challenges persist in reaching its full processing potential. Continued efforts to address technical and infrastructural limitations will be essential for the facility to meet its production goals and contribute effectively to Mexico’s energy needs.