[1/3] A general view shows Mexican state oil firm Pemex's Cadereyta refinery in Cadereyta, on the outskirts of Monterrey, Mexico, August 27, 2021.
The push to increase Pemex's output, however, has ramped up fuel oil production, due mostly to its refineries' struggle to efficiently process the heavy crude Mexican oil fields pump.
CORE PROBLEMSPemex fuel oil is a sludge-like product, especially bad for air quality when burnt to generate electricity due to its high sulfur content, which has diminished its market value.
Most refiners seek to minimize production of fuel oil by using coking plants to extract higher value fuels like gasoline and diesel from heavy crude.
For now, Pemex's motor fuel production is still eclipsed by what it buys abroad, or around 353,000 bpd of gasoline imports this year through April.
Persons:
Daniel Becerril, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Lopez Obrador's, Pemex, Lopez Obrador, Lopez, Ana Isabel Martinez, David Alire Garcia, Dave Graham, Marguerita Choy
Organizations:
REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Reuters, Pemex, Comision Federal, Thomson
Locations:
Cadereyta, Monterrey, Mexico, MEXICO, wean, U.S