The methane emission on the Zaap-C platform, which first appeared on December 8, was discovered by researchers, including the Polytechnic University of Valencia, and published by the European Space Agency. Pemex confirmed the existence of an emission, but refuted the volume calculated by the scientists.
Invisible and odourless, methane is considered a much more powerful short-term global warming factor than carbon dioxide because it traps more heat in the atmosphere.
Mexico, along with a hundred other countries, has committed to reducing methane emissions by 30% by 2030.
The information received from Pemex through the access to information request also showed that the company did not report another methane emission of a similar size in August.detected by the same scientists.
It also failed to inform ASEA of a huge ocean surface fire in July 2021 caused by a gas leak from a ruptured underwater pipeline. Dubbed “the eye of fire” by local media, images of the huge circular flame went viral as it burned for five hours.
Experts were concerned about the lack of reporting and transparency around the incidents, all of which have occurred in different parts of the Ku Maloob Zaap gas infrastructure in the last two years.
As part of its response, Pemex released several internal documents showing that it did report two other incidents to the regulator in January 2020 and August 2021, both at gas processing centers adjacent to the complex.