Sheinbaum Unveils Fracking Scientific Committee: UNAM, IPN, UAM Experts to Evaluate Unconventional Gas in Two Months

At her April 15 mañanera, President Sheinbaum presented the composition of the scientific and technical committee tasked with evaluating the viability of unconventional natural gas extraction in Mexico — popularly called fracking. The committee includes academics from UNAM, the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), the Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM), the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), the Mexican Institute of Petroleum (IMP), and the Mexican Institute of Water Technology (IMTA). The committee has two months to develop an extraction protocol specifying methods that minimize environmental harm, with a commitment to use treated or non-potable water. A public consultation process with affected communities is also mandated before any project proceeds. Bloomberg reported Sheinbaum characterized the plan as an energy sovereignty measure to reduce Mexico's ~75% dependence on U.S. natural gas imports. Environmental groups challenged the plan as legally dubious — fracking is banned under existing Mexican regulations — and raised concerns about groundwater contamination in Mexico's already water-stressed northern states. Sheinbaum also denied false social media claims that CFE had scheduled power outages.