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Mexico president's 'dream' Pemex refinery strikes another delay, internal information shows

Mexican state energy business Pemex began sending out 16,300 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil to its brand-new Olmeca refinery this week, less than 5% of its total capacity, internal data seen revealed, indicating another delay.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had developed hugely enthusiastic infrastructure project in his home state Tabasco, describing it as a dream come true, with the promise of weaning the country off gasoline and diesel imports, most of which originate from the U.S.

With 2 weeks away from the governmental election, Pemex authorities have been keen to show development with the refinery in Dos Bocas, and that Lopez Obrador's promises had been kept.

However, the formerly unreported data likewise showed that in August, the refinery is set up to receive 170,000 bpd, still half of the feedstock required for the 340,000-bpd plant.

The volumes, which 2 sources acquainted with the operations verified, raise fresh questions over the progress of the roughly $16 billion job, which has been running behind schedule and over budget plan.

Inaugurated in

July 2022

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

full capacity in 2023

. But numerous deadlines have not been fulfilled.

Earlier this month, nevertheless, Pemex backtracked once again and said it would process only 177,000 bpd this year before ramping up to complete capability in 2025.

The sluggish start at the new refinery in the southeastern part of the country suggests Mexico will still need to count on improved fuel imports.

Mexico will also continue to export its heavy petroleum against earlier expectations that the new refinery would result in a sharp decline, easing tight products worldwide as major Middle East manufacturers have lowered exports to meet their OPEC+ promises.

During Pemex's last quarterly profits call at the end of April, officials stated the refinery would start producing diesel later this month which gasoline would follow.

Diesel is widely considered easier to produce than fuel. They did not discuss petroleum processing rates or targets.

Pemex also has actually not openly divulged how much petroleum the new refinery has received up until now.

The data seen was consisted of in a document the refining arm of Pemex sent to the exploration and production arm to enable preparing up until August.

The preliminary quantity sent out to the refinery this week was less than 1% of the 1.8 million bpd Pemex currently produces.

EXAGGERATED PROGRESS

It is common for new refineries to start up slowly however the federal government has actually been promoting its success.

Two sources familiar with the internal information informed that the remarkably small volume of crude oil the refinery is getting were for one processing line just, and that it was unclear when the 2nd one would start.

Among the sources included that the government had exaggerated progress ahead of the June 2 election.

Claudia Sheinbaum, the prospect for Lopez Obrador's. National Regeneration Motion (MORENA) celebration, keeps a

strong lead

over her primary rival in polls.

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

formerly exposed that Pemex asked its trading. unit in March to cancel up to 436,000 bpd of exports for April. since it stated it required these volumes for the domestic. refining system. A few of this was indicated for the new refinery.

A couple of days later, sources stated Pemex prepared to cut another. 330,000 bpd for May - although it later on reversed the second. round of cuts, triggering turmoil and confusion among international. purchasers that had actually been banking on materials from Mexico.

One buyer of Maya crude oil said the market was surprised. when Pemex backtracked on cancellations thinking about there was. such a big cut a month previously.

Another source at a refinery said buyers needed to take term. cargoes for May although they had bought other grades, like. Iraqi Basra crude, to replace supply they anticipated to be cut.

Mexico's energy ministry has not yet published monthly. updates on how many barrels of petroleum Pemex's 6 regional. refineries have processed in April or May up until now.

Up until completion of March, the current for which official. numbers are offered, the data base reveals no allotments at all. for the Olmeca refinery.

(source: Reuters)