Expansion of the Great Gulf of Mexico Causes Alarm Over Environmental Damage – Global Issues
MEXICO, Dec 19 (IPS) – The expansion of the port of Manzanillo, Mexico’s most important port in terms of cargo and located on the central Pacific coast, has a major environmental impact, and presents climate risks.
Work began on November 23rd without the required environmental impact study, and includes the expansion of the port, the construction of a fuel storage facility and a power and steam plant in the western region of Colima.
For independent expert Hugo Smith, the impact is “huge”, as the area hosts important economic activities, such as agriculture, livestock, salt marshes and fisheries.
“There is a lot of damage to the community that has never been resolved. For example, they dug a port to install a gas station. When there is mining, sea sediments are moved, causing more pollution and when they are mixed, new pollution is caused. The damage is irreparable”, he told the IPS from the port of Tampico, northeast of Tamaulipas.
This expert emphasized the lack of adequate planning, because “in other places they ask for weather forecasts, in this case there should be very well-planned activities, they should be monitored.” There is talk of sustainability as a political slogan, but there are no clues. “
The expansion includes a storage and distribution facility for state-owned Petróleos Mexicoanos (Pemex) with a capacity to carry 3.7 million barrels of fuel, another seaport capable of transporting five million containers, and roads.
The port site currently covers 437 hectares, with 19 docks and warehouses.
With the project, which will be completed by 2030, the area of the port will be expanded to 1,800 hectares in the second area of the Cuyutlán lake. There are four control ditches that catch the rain and divide the lake with roads and mud gates.
With a public and private investment of US$3,480 million, the Mexican government wants to transform the port of the coastal city of Manzanillo into the largest in Latin America and the 15th largest in the world, by doubling its total value.
The expansion is part of a plan to modernize Mexico’s 10 state ports.
An important place to live
President Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office on October 1, has maintained the plans of her predecessor and political mentor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018-2024), to revive old projects. The expansion of Manzanillo began in the administration of Felipe Calderón (2006-2012) and López Obrador officially took it over again in 2019, but without improving its development.
The city of Manzanillo, with 159,000 people and more than 800 kilometers west of Mexico City, is surrounded by the ports of Valle de las Garzas and Cuyutlán, which are important for the environment because of the animals and plants they shelter.
The National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (Conabio) lists as the most important environmental factors the presence of salt cultivation, artisanal fishing, mangroves, native and migratory birds, and crocodiles and turtles, in the Cuyutlán port of 7,200 hectares, located. along the Pacific coast.
The ecosystem covers 90% of the wetlands in the state of Colima and is registered by Conabio as a marine and hydrological priority.
In fact, a decade ago the agency warned that expansion of the harbor “could raise water levels and alter important breeding and feeding habitats for organisms such as birds.”
These works will require, it said, “the opening of new channels of communication with the sea, as well as deep channels of navigation, which can cause serious changes in the levels and circulation of water.”
Hence the importance of environmental impact assessment, in order to know the effects and the mitigation measures that are considered.
In 2017, then-president Enrique Peña Nieto (2012-2018) issued an invitation for an environmental assessment, but it was ignored when it was carried out. In any case, the jobs were not done.
Two ports are at risk
The harbor has four boat docks, the last two of which are near the expansion area.
These are important areas worldwide since 2011 under the Convention on Wetlands, as they support endangered species and communities in the natural environment; population of plants and animals that are important in maintaining the biodiversity of the region.
It is also home to about 20,000 waterfowl and migratory birds, and provides food for fish and nesting ground for turtles.
To the north of the port is the Valle de las Garzas lagoon of 268 hectares, which suffers from high soil quality due to the loss of soil from water and cities, and has a high level of nutrients due to the output of nearby medicinal plants and people. activities. It is therefore in a worse condition than the port of Cuyutlán.
Despite its status, local authorities have not declared it a protected area. Meanwhile, the fourth port of Cuyutlán is about to accept this status, although it does not appear that this protection will hinder the port expansion project already started.
The area also faces climate threats. Between 2030 and 2050, the coastal areas around Manzanillo and inside the Cuyutlán bay will be inundated by rising seawater, according to forecasts by the international science forum Climate Central.
In addition, the port area is facing increased flooding due to rain, according to a climate study conducted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Inconsistency
Starting in 2023, the Department of the Navy, which manages federal ports, is implementing the Port Decarbonisation Strategy, which aims to reduce operational emissions.
In what is the second largest economy in Latin America, 227.75 million tons were handled between January and October in the 103 ports of the National Port System (SPN). The value is 7.5% lower than that of the same period in 2023.
Manzanillo handled 30.77 million tons – about 1% less than the same period of 2023 – until last November.
In 2022, 36 ports of 18 SPN administrations released 1.33 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent, almost double the level of 2021, according to the national strategy. Carbon equivalents of pollutants in terms of CO2. Manzanillo released 30% more emissions into the atmosphere than in 2022.
Estimates include the operations of cargo ships, docked vessels, cargo handling equipment, trains and freight trucks, as well as the operations of terminals, operators, service providers, shipping lines, shipping agents, customs, land transport and railway companies.
The Decarbonisation Strategy sets a reduction in emissions of 25 % in 2030 and 45 % in 2050, but it only sets out general measures, such as planning a strong infrastructure, management and planning tools that harmonize, such as permit titles, key development plans and operating rules.
It also sets out a mechanism for identifying, defining and planning the implementation of low-emission energy policies.
Port sustainability includes consideration of environmental, economic and social aspects, such as land pollution, environmental degradation, return on investment and job creation.
But the installation of additional hydrocarbon terminals, fuel storage facilities and a gas-fired power plant are at odds with the objectives of this strategy. Official advertising presents it as sustainable due to its gas consumption, despite the fact that it is the most polluting fossil fuel.
In addition, the 2021-2026 master plan for port development does not take into account environmental considerations.
As is the case throughout Latin America, no Mexican port appears on the project map of the World Ports Sustainability Program, an organization that brings together the world’s largest environmentally friendly institutions.
Expert Smith pointed out a greater focus on ship operations to improve the port’s sustainability.
“Ships are becoming more and more disturbed due to nature. Ports do not provide renewable energy. Decarbonisation must focus on ships and the most polluting are container ships,” he said.
© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
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