50% of the gasoline used in Mexico is of low quality

Since 2005, Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) has invested 106.58 billion pesos (US$5.9 billion) to produce gasoline and diesel with an ultra low sulfur content (UBA) in order to improve air quality and reduce emissions. However until now it has failed in its objective.

According to its 2016 Annual Operational Program, five of every 10 liters used in the country do not have this quality, as well as one quarter of the diesel.

The company has had to import this type of fuel to cover part of the market needs and fulfill the commitment made 11 years ago.

This year Pemex is expected to import 109,700 barrels of Premium UBA gasoline (71.9% of the domestic demand); 164,400 barrels of Regular or Magna UBA gasoline (26.2% of the demand) and 135,400 barrels of UBA diesel every day, representing 34.6% of the total.

In August 2005, Petróleos Refinación, then responsible for producing the gasoline required by the country, acknowledged that it did not have all the infrastructure [plants and equipment] required to produce fuel of the quality established in the norm 086-SEMARNAT-SENER-SCFI-2005.

Pemex produces 111,000 barrels of Magna UBA gasoline per day (17.7% of the national consumption) and 156,900 barrels of UBA diesel (40.1% of domestic demand). Until now it has not produced Ultra Low Sulfur Content gasoline.

Pedro Joaquín Coldwell, Mexico's Energy Minister, said that the environmental problem is not caused by the quality of gasoline. His opinion was supported by José Antonio González Anaya, CEO of Petróleos Mexicanos.

They added that all the gasoline used in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey is imported and fulfills the standards established in the Mexican norm.

Katherine Blumberg, leader of the clean air program at the International Council on Clean Transportation, also agrees. She said that environmental problems are caused by the cars driven in the country.

She explained that the vehicles produced in Mexico and exported to the United States are cleaner, because they produce 89% less emissions than the ones produced and sold in Mexico.