the senator Xochitl Galvez filed this Wednesday a criminal complaint against the head of the Ministry of Energy (Sener), Rocío Nahle, and the director of Mexican oil (Pemex), Octavio Romero, for allegedly not having reported on a methane leak on one of the state-owned offshore platforms, Reuters reported.
According to the document seen by the agency, the PAN senator, who is a member of the commissions of Environment and of Energy in the Upper House, filed this complaint with the Attorney General of the Republic (FGR) against officials, also including the head of the Security, Energy and Environment Agency (ASEA), Angel Carrizales.
Reuters sought comment from nahle, Rosemary Y Reedbeds through the press teams of the Ministry of Energy, Pemex and the regulator, in addition to social networks, without receiving any response so far.
Senator’s complaint Xochitl Galvez comes after Reuters revealed that the Security, Energy and Environment Agency had no records that Pemex report on the December incident.
Last June, Reuters reported that an investigation published by the European Space Agency revealed that between December 8 and 27, 2021, a methane leak on a Pemex offshore platform.
The researchers led by Itziar Irakulis-Loitxate, from the polytechnic university of Valenciacalculated that about 40,000 tons of methane were released during that period.
Investigators concluded that the leak into the Gulf of Mexico was likely due to “abnormal process conditions at the site,” such as malfunctions or equipment problems.
According to Reuters, the emissions occurred about Campechein the Gulf of Mexico, in the field Ku-Maloob-Zaapwhich produces about 20% of the country’s total oil production.
Methane is much more powerful at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, but it only lasts in the atmosphere for about a decade.
(With information from Reuters.)
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