Given the increase in polluting emissions, the Nuevo León government could close the Cadereyta Refinery

Monterrey, NL. According to the Comprehensive Environmental Monitoring System of the Ministry of the Environment in Nuevo León, the station located in Cadereyta has reported an increase in emissions such as sulfur dioxide, at night, for which reason the Environment Secretary He sent a letter to Pemex, where he warns that they could close the Refinery.

The governor of Nuevo León, Samuel García Sepúlveda, said in a video addressed to the population: “Since I was a local deputy, I have been a staunch defender of the environment, and I have fought with many of its sources, mainly the Refinery (of Pemex ), I did it as a deputy, as a leader of Movimiento Ciudadano and as a senator”.

“Today alarming videos of the pollution produced by this Refinery are circulating, one is shocked to see that yellow and gray smoke. The first thing I did was talk to the director, I asked him for an urgent meeting and I am also informing the president (Andrés Manuel López Obrador, about what is happening in Nuevo León. He tells me that some compressors have failed and this has thrown the operation out of control. the catalytic plant, but that has already been controlled as an emergency”.

“The Ministry of the Environment came, we are going to impose strong sanctions for this incident and I hope to give them more information later,” said the governor.

As will be recalled, on March 14, in the municipalities of Cadereyta, Juárez, Guadalupe and Monterrey, citizens complained of a harsh and pungent odor, which spread for several hours on Monday night, which affected many people. with sore throat, eye irritation, nausea and vomiting.

A document sent by the Ministry of the Environment to the director of the Pemex plant in Cadereyta mentioned that every night starting at approximately 8:00 p.m., emissions from the Cadereyta Refinery intensify.

“Especially during this time of year and due to the prevailing weather conditions, the impact of their emissions is very obvious, which can be observed as they disperse throughout the Monterrey Metropolitan Area,” the state agency said.

In the recent emissions inventory, it has been determined that the Cadereyta Refinery emits more than 90% of all the sulfur dioxide released in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area.

He sulfur dioxide It is a gas that acutely affects the health of the population, especially the respiratory tract, mouth and eyes. In the same way, sulfur dioxide is a precursor of PM 2.5 particles, specifically sulfates, which represent around 20% of particles smaller than 2.5 microns (PM 2.5).

Long-term exposure to these particles is linked to an increase in the proportion of disease cases such as diabetes, ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections; among other diseases.

Félix Arratia, Secretary of the Environment in the state, highlighted that this Sunday, March 19, ostensible emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere were reported, coming from the Cadereyta Refineryas can be seen in the photographs circulating on social networks.

The official warned Pemex that a closure could be reached, despite the fact that the Refinery is subject to federal interference, based on article 230 of the State Environmental Law.