Sheinbaum: 'BlackRock Did Not Influence' Unconventional Gas Decision; Plan Driven by Energy Sovereignty

At her April 9 mañanera, President Sheinbaum directly addressed growing speculation that her meeting with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink on April 8 had influenced the same-day announcement of a plan to develop Mexico's unconventional natural gas deposits. 'BlackRock did not influence the decision,' Sheinbaum said, asserting that the gas plan was developed by Mexico's energy and technical teams based on national energy sovereignty priorities. She reiterated that Europe's experience of dependence on Russian gas, and global supply chain risks exposed by Middle East conflicts, made energy self-sufficiency a strategic imperative for Mexico. Sheinbaum also confirmed that a two-month technical committee would evaluate extraction methods before any project proceeds, and that fracking per se was not the government's approach. Critics from opposition parties and civil society groups noted the back-to-back nature of the events underscored the need for transparent disclosure of meetings between the president and major foreign investors.