President Andrés Manuel López Obrador expropriated the hydrogen generating plant U-3400 in Tula, Hidalgoand now its temporary occupation will be in charge of Pemex Industrial Transformation.
In a decree published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF)it was detailed that said plant is “appropriate and ideal for the development of the national energy sector”, so it will be used for the gasoline and diesel production.
“The recovery of the U-3400 Hydrogen Plant located inside the Miguel Hidalgo refinerywill improve the refining margins of Pemex Industrial Transformation and will contribute to national energy sovereignty,” according to the publication.
This plant It was sold in 2017 to the French company Air Liquide. The objective was supply hydrogen to Pemex in order to reduce production costs and gradually increase their operations.
However, in the decree published this December 29, it was justified that lto fee that is currently paid for this serviceincreases hydrogen supply costs at low levels of crude oil processing.”
Now, Air Liquide will have 10 business days to start a Judicial procedement with the sole objective of contesting the amount of the compensation.
“Pemex Industrial Transformation has made a significant effort to consolidate the equipment and infrastructure necessary for the development of its activities, among them, in the National Refining System“, according to the decree.
To date, the hydrogen It is a raw material for oil refining, ammonia, methane and steel production.
According to what was published by the federal government, existing large-scale hydrogen demand in refineries is expected to increase as regulations are tightened on the sulfur content in petroleum products.