A federal judge has issued a ruling declaring the operation of the "Ing. Héctor R. Lara Sosa" refinery in Cadereyta, Nuevo León, which is operated by Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), illegal. This decision comes as a result of an amparo lawsuit filed by the National Council of Strategic Litigation, Escalada Libre A.C., and the Integral Ecological Committee, who expressed their concern over the increasing pollution in the region and the lack of effective measures by the authorities.
The ruling sets a precedent by recognizing that the authorities are responsible for ensuring the proper application of environmental regulations, especially the ProAire 2016-2025, a state program aimed at improving air quality in Nuevo León. As a result, the National Agency for Industrial Safety and Environmental Protection of the Hydrocarbons Sector (Asea) has been ordered to take immediate measures to mitigate the emission of pollutants from the refinery.
Among the ordered measures is regular monitoring of air quality in the refinery’s area of influence, the execution of a preventive maintenance program for boilers and sulfur plants, as well as the adoption of cleaner technologies such as the replacement of fuel oil with gas fuel and the installation of high-efficiency burners.
The failure of federal authorities to conduct inspection visits has also been highlighted, which has allowed the refinery to operate illegally without complying with the Official Mexican Standards or the ProAire program. The need for effective and constant supervision by federal authorities over the activities of the Cadereyta Refinery has been emphasized to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and protect public health and the environment in the Monterrey metropolitan area.
