Mexico City, Mexico — During the commemoration of the 84th anniversary of the Oil Expropriation, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador reaffirmed the commitment to rescue the industry. He also reiterated that next year, Mexico will be self-sufficient in fuel production.
“With the arrival of our government, we are putting a stop to looting and raising the important national oil industry with the workers and technicians of Pemex,” he said.
While in Minatitlán, Veracruz, the president highlighted that during the first three years of his government, oil extraction has increased after 14 years of continuous losses. He added that refining capacity has also increased, while fuel imports have decreased by 45 percent.
These improvements, he said, are the result of the rehabilitation of the six refineries in the country and the purchase of the Deer Park plant in Texas.
Despite the instability of the international energy markets, Mexico is not registering an increase in fuel prices, he added.
“We are getting ahead, and in Mexico, electricity tariffs or gasoline, diesel and gas prices have not risen which helps us curb inflation, strengthen the popular economy and guarantee the well-being of Mexicans, especially of the most needy, the poorest in our country,” he remarked.
He argued that the cleansing of public institutions will continue to avoid corruption and thus, take care of the country’s economy.
“Let’s never again allow corruption in Pemex. Let’s clean it up completely. Let’s finish cleaning up the corruption in Pemex. The same in the Federal Electricity Commission. Let’s not give the conservatives any pretext, let them not have any excuse because these people’s companies have to be an example of honest administration of the people’s assets, of the nation’s assets,” he said.
The general director of Petróleos Mexicanos, Octavio Romero Oropeza, highlighted the unprecedented support of the federal government for the State production company.
“Unlike previous governments that irresponsibly sought the extinction of this great public company. The actions of this administration are guaranteeing that Pemex continues to be the lever of development of the nation for many more years,” he said.
He explained that the current exploration strategy, the accelerated development of new fields, the increase in drilling activity, the maintenance of base production and a new focus on results and accountability, are the axes that drive the oil industry.
“The presidential vision has been nationalistic so that we Mexicans maintain control of strategic resources and can take advantage of them as a basis for economic and social development,” he said.
“Let’s extract from the subsoil only the oil we need to supply the internal market. Let’s stop selling crude oil and buying fuels abroad. We will refine all our raw material. Let’s avoid the burning of gas and take care of these non-renewable resources that will be the inheritance that we give to future generations of Mexicans, to our children, to our grandchildren,” AMLO said during the commemoration.
