Pemex denies fracking plans in San Luis Potosí, says explosives permit is purely administrative

Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) issued a series of statements confirming that no hydraulic fracturing (fracking) activities are being carried out or planned in the Huasteca Potosina region of San Luis Potosí. The company said the recent June 30, 2026 notice sent to the municipality of San Antonio, which concerned the use of explosive materials, is part of a routine administrative procedure to keep a federal explosives‑use permit active for possible contingencies or seismic‑acquisition studies in already‑registered fields. Pemex emphasized that "no se realizan trabajos de exploración y explotación de yacimientos de formación compleja no convencionales en ningún municipio del estado de San Luis Potosí" and that explosives are not used in any stage of fracking operations.

The permit relates to two existing fields: San Pedro (four wells located in San Antonio and Tanlajás) and Limón (three wells in Ébano). Media reports linking the notice to the start of fracking sparked protests in several municipalities, which Pemex said resulted from a misinterpretation of the administrative document. The company reiterated that the update of the explosives permit does not authorize new drilling, exploration, or extraction activities.

These clarifications were released amid a broader national debate on the environmental and social impacts of fracking and the Mexican government's consideration of a "sustainable fracking" policy.