The Mexican administration recently took control of a hydrogen facility at the Pemex-owned Miguel Hidalgo Refinery. This action is detailed in a new decree issued by the Ministry of Energy, which specifically targets the U-3400 hydrogen plant located in Tula de Allende, Hidalgo. The plant now falls under the management of Pemex Industrial Transformation, a subsidiary of Pemex.

The official decree from the Ministry demands the immediate enforcement of this expropriation, leading to the permanent acquisition of the hydrogen production facilities by Pemex Industrial Transformation. This order has been recorded in the Official Gazette (DOF), where it specifies that Pemex Industrial Transformation will compensate any rightful claimants as per the appraisal conducted by the National Institute of Administration and Property Appraisal.

Covering an area of 6,451 square meters, the facility was formerly in the hands of Air Liquide México, a company based out of France. The temporary control of the plant was initiated by Pemex on December 29, 2023, following a presidential directive issued by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO).

Before the start of AMLO’s presidency, Pemex had formed a 20-year hydrogen supply partnership with Air Liquide México, announced on February 23, 2017. This arrangement was a direct result of energy reforms and marked a pioneering type of service agreement for refineries.

The expropriation encompasses all relevant assets, facilities, services, and operational rights as outlined in the valuation document with the sequential number 02-24-99 and identifier G-38000-1-ZNB, ensuring the plant's continued function as detailed by the Mexican government in the DOF.

‍