Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) has denied reports of contamination in Bahía La Ventosa following a series of hydrocarbon spills in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca.
The dispute highlights a growing conflict between the state-owned energy company and local communities whose livelihoods depend on the health of the coastal ecosystem. With fishing activities halted, the economic impact on the region is mounting.
Residents and fishermen report that eight hydrocarbon spills have occurred within the last three weeks [1]. The most recent incidents, the seventh and eighth spills, took place in July 2026 [5]. Local inhabitants have presented evidence of the spills, describing a dense stain of chemical residues in the bay [2].
The suspected pollutant is heavy fuel oil, known as combustóleo, which allegedly leaked from a Pemex pipeline or refinery line [3]. This contamination has reportedly affected more than 400 fishermen [1], who are now unable to operate in the affected waters.
This is not an isolated event for the region. There have been 60 documented incidents at the Antonio Dovalí Jaimes refinery since 2022 [1]. When including the most recent spills, the total number of reported incidents has reached 65 [1].
Despite these figures and the evidence presented by the community, Pemex said the bay is not contaminated [1]. The company continues to dispute the claims that its operations caused the pollution in Bahía La Ventosa and the nearby fishing lagoon [3].
Environmental advocates and residents express concern that the pollution could lead to irreversible damage to the lagoon's biodiversity [3]. The lack of agreement between the company and the community on the extent of the damage complicates efforts to implement cleanup operations, or provide compensation to the affected workers.
“Eight hydrocarbon spills have occurred within the last three weeks.”
The contradiction between Pemex's official denials and the documented evidence from residents suggests a systemic failure in environmental reporting and accountability at the Antonio Dovalí Jaimes refinery. If the company continues to deny the presence of hydrocarbons despite 65 reported incidents since 2022, the window for effective ecological remediation closes, potentially permanently destroying the local fishing economy of Salina Cruz.
