President Lopez Obrador expressed dissatisfaction with the allocated funds for remediation, asserting that they fall short of the scale required to rectify the environmental damage.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced on Monday that a comprehensive action plan is underway to tackle a toxic spill that has plagued the Sonora River for nearly a decade. The disaster, attributed to a leading mining and transportation conglomerate, Grupo Mexico, has prompted calls for enhanced cleanup efforts.
President Lopez Obrador expressed dissatisfaction with the allocated funds for remediation, asserting that they fall short of the scale required to rectify the environmental damage. He revealed that intensive discussions in the coming days will lead to a new proposal, which will be presented to Grupo Mexico. “We’re resolving it, looking for options and alternatives,” he affirmed.
In response, Grupo Mexico issued a statement defending their remediation endeavors, citing substantial scientific backing for their successful river cleanup efforts. They contested claims from the environment ministry, which declared the recent remediation work inadequate, pointing out that traces of contaminants still linger in the Sonora River.
As Mexico’s leading copper producer, Grupo Mexico refuted the ministry’s allegations, labeling them as baseless. “The alleged findings from tests presented last week have no link to the 2014 event. They omit current sources of pollution such as illegal mining (and) the discharge of untreated sewage,” the company’s statement read. They also referenced a government resolution from May 2023, asserting that water quality in the river had already returned to its pre-spill levels.
The Sonora River contamination, viewed as one of Mexico’s gravest ecological crises, has prompted renewed scrutiny on environmental policies and corporate responsibility. With the upcoming proposal, President Lopez Obrador aims to steer the nation towards a more sustainable and restorative course for the afflicted river. The international community closely watches this development, anticipating a significant step towards environmental recovery.
A toxic spill occurred in the Sonora River in Mexico on August 7, 2014. The spill was caused by a ruptured pipeline at the Buenavista del Cobre copper mine, owned by Grupo México. The spill released approximately 40,000 cubic meters (10.6 million gallons) of copper sulfate acid solution and heavy metals into the river.