Gas pipeline megaproject endangers Puerto Libertad

The Gulf of California, considered by some to be the Aquarium of the world due to the number of species that live there, will be affected by the mega infrastructure project that will extract Liquefied Natural Gas.

Although several environmental organizations have raised their voices to prevent its construction, the project has the support of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE).

The project contemplates the construction of a gas pipeline that would cross the northwest of Mexico, starting in Texas, in the United States, and passing through the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora to the Gulf of California, where a 400 hectare liquefaction terminal would be installed, precisely in the community of Puerto Libertad, Sonora.

Let’s listen to Gerardo Guzman on what this project could cause to the environment.

The imminent construction of a gas pipeline that will cross the Sonora desert and flow into the Gulf of California is causing warnings from environmentalists and whale protection organizations.

It is the Saguaro Liquefied Natural Gas project, in charge of the U.S. company Mexico Pacific, the mega infrastructure will cross mountains, forests and deserts.

Victor Rodriguez, a journalist in Baja California, affirms that the methane will be liquefied in a terminal located in Puerto Libertad, and then transported in huge methane tankers to the Asian continent.
The environmental impact of the area is highly possible, says Rodriguez.

The Gulf of California is home to more than 12,000 species of flora and fauna, so among the main concerns of experts like Saad is the damage to the marine ecosystem:

In addition there is the increase in traffic of gigantic ships, Since cargo ships over 300 meters long can affect the habitat of cetaceans and other species, Victor Rodriguez, explains it this way.

Biologist Georgina Saad points out that there is also pollution due to the emission of greenhouse gases and the risk of spills or leaks.

Several environmental coalitions have already demonstrated against the megaproject. They delivered more than 215 thousand signatures to President Claudia Sheinbaum to demand its cancellation and organizations such as GreenPeace have held meetings with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, but as Rodriguez assures so far both the Federal Government and the Sonora Government maintain the idea that the pipeline will bring investment to the region and that its environmental impact will be minimal.

While the discussion continues, activists continue their fight to prevent the “Aquarium of the World”, the Gulf of California, from being irreversibly damaged by the expansion of the gas industry.

FOR THE DISPATCH OF NOTICIERO LATINO REPORTED GERARDO GUZMAN

Many thanks to my colleague Gerardo Guzman.

Remember that this is part of the Cuando se Seca el Arroyo series, funded in part by The Walton Family Foundation.