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RPT-Mexico president's 'dream' Pemex refinery strikes another delay, internal data programs

Mexican state energy business Pemex started sending 16,300 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil to its new Olmeca refinery this week, less than 5% of its total capability, internal data seen revealed, signifying another hold-up.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had constructed hugely ambitious infrastructure project in his home state Tabasco, describing it as a dream become a reality, with the guarantee of weaning the nation off gasoline and diesel imports, most of which come from the U.S.

With two weeks away from the governmental election, Pemex authorities have been keen to reveal development with the refinery in Dos Bocas, which Lopez Obrador's promises had been kept.

Nevertheless, the formerly unreported data also showed that in August, the refinery is scheduled to get 170,000 bpd, still half of the feedstock required for the 340,000-bpd plant.

The volumes, which 2 sources acquainted with the operations confirmed, raise fresh concerns over the progress of the approximately $16 billion project, which has actually been running behind schedule and over budget.

Inaugurated in

July 2022

, the refinery was then projected to run at half capacity the following July and reach

full capacity in 2023

. However numerous due dates have actually not been satisfied.

Previously this month, nevertheless, Pemex backtracked again and stated it would process just 177,000 bpd this year before ramping up to complete capacity in 2025.

The sluggish start at the brand-new refinery in the southeastern part of the nation suggests Mexico will still need to depend on fine-tuned fuel imports.

Mexico will also continue to export its heavy petroleum versus earlier expectations that the brand-new refinery would result in a sharp decline, alleviating tight materials globally as major Middle East producers have lowered exports to meet their OPEC+ promises.

Throughout Pemex's last quarterly revenues call at the end of April, authorities stated the refinery would begin producing diesel later this month which fuel would follow.

Diesel is commonly considered easier to produce than gasoline. They did not point out petroleum processing rates or targets.

Pemex also has actually not publicly revealed just how much crude oil the brand-new refinery has actually gotten up until now.

The information seen was included in a file the refining arm of Pemex sent to the expedition and production arm to enable preparing up till August.

The initial amount sent to the refinery this week was less than 1% of the 1.8 million bpd Pemex presently produces.

EXAGGERATED DEVELOPMENT

It prevails for brand-new refineries to launch gradually but the government has actually been touting its success.

2 sources acquainted with the internal information told that the surprisingly little volume of petroleum the refinery is receiving were for one processing line only, and that it was unclear when the second one would begin.

One of the sources added that the federal government had actually exaggerated progress ahead of the June 2 election.

Claudia Sheinbaum, the candidate for Lopez Obrador's. National Regeneration Motion (MORENA) party, maintains a

strong lead

over her main rival in polls.

Pemex and the president's office did not respond to requests. for remark.

formerly exposed that Pemex asked its trading. unit in March to cancel as much as 436,000 bpd of exports for April. because it said it required these volumes for the domestic. refining system. Some of this was indicated for the new refinery.

A couple of days later on, sources stated Pemex prepared to cut another. 330,000 bpd for May - although it later on reversed the 2nd. round of cuts, triggering turmoil and confusion amongst global. purchasers that had been relying on materials from Mexico.

One buyer of Maya crude oil stated the market was amazed. when Pemex backtracked on cancellations considering there was. such a huge cut a month earlier.

Another source at a refinery stated buyers had to take term. cargoes for May despite the fact that they had actually purchased other grades, like. Iraqi Basra crude, to change supply they expected to be cut.

Mexico's energy ministry has actually not yet published monthly. updates on how many barrels of crude oil Pemex's 6 local. refineries have actually processed in April or May so far.

Until the end of March, the latest for which authorities. numbers are offered, the information base shows no allotments at all. for the Olmeca refinery.

(source: Reuters)