By Stefanie Eschenbacher

MEXICO CITY, (Reuters) – Mexico’s energy sector blazed to record heights last year. However, despite promises by the government to cut such activity down, the researchers from a top team of scientists found that the gas extraction sites rose despite the fact that the government has made no efforts.

It releases methane and black carbon as well, which are all greenhouse gases that have been linked to global warming. Additionally, it wastes valuable resources related to many oil reserves.

Mexico was able to flare 6.5 billion cubic meters (bcm), of gas in 2021, compared with 5.8 bcm a single year ago, according Tamara Sparks of Earth Observation Group of Colorado School of Mines. She analyzed NASA satellite images of potential flare locations for Reuters.

Sparks stated that while Flaring reached its peak in 2021, it remained elevated enough all year to surpass 2020 which had already been a record.

Sparks also stated that the data from Earth Observation Group revealed a decrease in the number individual flare sites in Mexico to 181 in 2018, compared with 170 in 2020. The current record was established in 2012.

This is the first time that these numbers have been reported.

The Earth Observation Group estimates that increased flaring can emit millions more tons of greenhouse gasses.

Flaring can be cheaper than spending on expensive infrastructure for capturing, processing and transporting it.

According to officials at Petroleos Mexicanos state oil company (Pemex), and the Energy Ministry, current budget priorities focus on exploring and increasing oil production.

Pemex, as well as the ministry of energy did not respond to requests for comment regarding this story.

Pemex is the most indebted oil company of state, and has had to comply with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s ambitious production goals. Lopez Obrador is an energy nationalist who relies on little private investment.

According to data, Mexico’s crude oil consumption had increased by 3.9 million barrels per year when Lopez Obrador assumed office late 2018. The practice has skyrocketed despite falling oil production in Mexico.

According to the 2021 data, Mexico is still far behind in the global effort to shift to cleaner energy, despite its pledges to decrease flaring and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Scientists and researchers around the globe, including the World Bank which is leading a push to eliminate routine flaring by 2030 have warned that the practice can contribute to climate change as well as environmental pollution.

In its most recent quarterly filings, Pemex said that it was flaring to much. Pemex has claimed that infrastructure for dealing with the gas produced from oil is not efficient, obsolete, or insufficient.

Lopez Obrador claimed that Pemex will need time and has accused his predecessors, who were guilty of years of corruption and plundering.

Emily Medina is a Fellow at the Energy Policy Research Foundation. She stated that Pemex had a social obligation and an environmental responsibility to minimize flaring and that economics would make sense.

Medina stated that gas is an important commodity, especially in the current high prices. This could be a way to strengthen Mexico’s energy security.