Sheinbaum Considers Fracking to Boost Mexico’s Natural Gas Production

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced plans to tap into unconventional natural gas deposits to reduce the country’s reliance on foreign energy imports. The initiative comes at a time when global energy markets are being disrupted by the Iran war.

The proposal aims to increase Mexico’s domestic natural gas production. According to officials, tapping these reserves could raise production to 5.8 billion cubic feet per day by 2035, up from the current level of 2.3 billion cubic feet per day.

Approach to Sustainable Extraction

Despite the focus on unconventional deposits, Sheinbaum, a scientist and climate expert, notably avoided using the term fracking or hydraulic fracturing during her announcement. She instead framed the project as a pursuit of sustainable extraction, stating that environmental impacts would be minimized as much as possible.

To determine the viability of this approach, a technical committee has been established. The committee will spend two months evaluating methods to reduce harm, including the use of nonpotable water and the reduction of chemical additives. This group will also assess the costs associated with these mitigation efforts.

Sheinbaum justified the move by noting that the gas Mexico currently imports is extracted using methods that already have environmental impacts. She specifically pointed to fracking projects in Texas, noting they are located 100 meters from the Mexican border.

Strategic Context and Energy Security

The shift toward unconventional gas is intended to curb Mexico’s dependence on U.S. Natural gas. The move is seen as a way to stabilize energy security amid international volatility. Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) has already been involved in operations in the swampy lowlands of the Gulf Coast, utilizing high-pressure jets of water, chemicals, and sand to crack natural gas-soaked rocks.

The technical feasibility of sustainable fracking remains a point of significant debate among energy experts and environmental scientists. Critics and observers have questioned the ability to extract gas from deep underground bedrock using pressurized liquids while simultaneously minimizing environmental damage.

The decision marks a strategic direction for the administration as it balances the need for energy independence with the president’s background in climate science. The outcome of the technical committee’s two-month evaluation will likely determine the specific methods and scale of the unconventional gas extraction plan.