Overview
- The Salina Cruz refinery experienced a fire and venting event on June 21 in unit CB-5/Planta Catalítica 2 that Pemex described as a controlled venting carried out during cleaning operations.
- Municipal Protección Civil officials told reporters the probable cause was failure to properly drain fuel inside the unit, a explanation that differs from Pemex’s characterization of routine maintenance.
- Earlier in June the refinery recorded three separate spills on June 9, 10 and 14 that affected six nearby neighborhoods and the Bahía La Ventosa and prompted local alarms and cleanup actions.
- A September 2025 SNA study documents a long pattern of fires, explosions and spills at Salina Cruz and says environmental, health and economic damages from those incidents have not been estimated, calling for authorities to render accounts.
- The plant has a history of safety and infrastructure problems tied to equipment designed for lighter crudes, poor maintenance and weak contract oversight despite a 2022 investment, and the latest events heighten pressure for formal damage assessments and stronger regulatory scrutiny.