Monterrey, Mexico: For more than 30 years, Dagoberto Ramos worked at Pemex, Mexico’s state-owned oil company, at one of its petrochemical complexes in the energy hub of Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz.Ten years ago, the specialist in ethylene production opted for early retirement, fearing that deteriorating maintenance routines were putting him at risk of injury and liability. He was particularly concerned about being blamed for an accident resulting from neglected infrastructure.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list“Previously, the production plant received a month of maintenance, but this was gradually cut down to 20 days, and sometimes even 15, where only the most urgent tasks were prioritised,” he said.“The risk of a potential catastrophe was very real, both for the staff and for the surrounding communities.”On April 20, 2016, less than a year after Ramos left, an explosion rocked the Pajaritos complex, where he had worked before transferring to the Morelos complex just five kilometres away. The incident killed 32 people and injured more than 130 workers.Pemex, over the years, has been responsible for soil contamination, rising methane emissions, and pipeline spills, with chronic leaks impacting local communities and marine fauna. This lack of infrastructure maintenance has worsened as the state-owned giant contends with significant financial and operational constraints and a massive debt burden.For the past two decades, Pemex has struggled to increase pro …
