Sheinbaum Denies Promising to Ban Fracking and Conditions Unconventional Gas on Studies

Claudia Sheinbaum said on August 6 that she never promised during her 2024 campaign to ban hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in Mexico, and conditioned the exploitation of unconventional gas on technical, environmental, and social studies. The statement came at the morning press conference at Palacio Nacional, according to Bloomberg Línea.

On March 1, 2024, when presenting her 100 commitments of the Proyecto de Nación at the Zócalo in Mexico City, the then-candidate included commitment 87, in which she stated that "we will not support the exploitation of gas through fracking," according to Aristegui Noticias. On Thursday, the president responded that "I never said it in the campaign as such" and said her administration seeks energy sovereignty with minimal environmental impact. The backdrop is Mexico's import dependence: Mexico buys approximately 75% of the natural gas it consumes from the United States, nearly all from wells that use fracking, a fuel that supplies a large share of electricity generation, according to Bloomberg Línea.

A scientific committee convened by the president issued 10 conclusions on unconventional gas, including prioritizing the use of saltwater in fracturing operations, expanding renewables, and conducting prior consultations with communities, according to Bloomberg Línea. The president announced that the Tampico-Misantla basin will be excluded from any unconventional gas exploitation and that the decision will be formalized by decree; other regions remain under evaluation, reported Aristegui Noticias. At the same press conference she cited that 70% of the gas Mexico consumes is unconventional and imported from the United States, and said that before promoting this activity, the government will prioritize renewables, energy efficiency, and conventional deposits. Hydraulic fracturing faces opposition due to its freshwater consumption and health risks for surrounding communities, according to Bloomberg Línea.

The next milestone is the decree that will formalize the exclusion of Tampico-Misantla, while the remaining basins continue to be evaluated against the committee's 10 conclusions. Those documents will determine the path Mexico takes to produce unconventional gas and reduce its dependence on imports.

This article was written with artificial intelligence assistance from verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.