Mexico's president took office in late 2018 pledging to boost local output of gasoline while phasing out imports, but so far state refineries have instead set a different course: bumper production of highly-contaminating fuel oil.
To make Mexico self-sufficient, leftist resource nationalist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador wants the country to wean itself off dependence on foreign gasoline and diesel supplies, mostly from U.S. refiners, and replace them by 2024 with production from state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos .
"It's really more of a political statement than a reachable goal," one Pemex executive told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity to candidly discuss the quandary.In April, Pemex fuel oil production averaged over 322,000 barrels per day , the highest since July 2010 - even though the company's total crude output is now over a fifth lower than it was during 2016, official data show.
Lopez Obrador's plan also aims to end Pemex's long history as a major crude exporter, and instead refine it all at home. The firm produces around 1.6 million bpd of crude, but still exports more than 900,000 bpd - more than it refines. He is also betting on two more under-construction coking plants adding another 145,000 bpd of gasoline and diesel. But these projects are unlikely to significantly grow gasoline and diesel output before Lopez Obrador's term ends in October 2024.
Last November, Lopez Obrador even claimed Mexico would stop importing motor fuels by the end of this year.
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