Mexico’s fracking expansion reflects neoliberal energy dependency, ignoring renewable alternatives amid US gas leverage
Original framing: “Sheinbaum proposes fracking plan as Mexico seeks to curb US gas reliance” — Financial Times
Mexico’s energy dependency traces back to the 1982 debt crisis, when IMF structural adjustment programs forced privatization of PEMEX and reliance on foreign gas. The 2013 energy reform deepened this trend by opening the sector to multinational corporations, mirroring patterns in Nigeria and Ecuador. Historical parallels include the 1938 nationalization of oil under Lázaro Cárdenas, which was later undermined by neoliberal reforms. The current fracking push repeats past mistakes, ignoring lessons from the 1970s oil shocks and the 1990s privatization failures.
Mexico’s fracking expansion is not an isolated policy choice but the culmination of decades of neoliberal energy dependency, enforced through IMF structural adjustment, PEMEX privatization, and US corporate lobbying.
The Financial Times’ framing obscures this history, presenting fracking as a neutral ‘solution’ while ignoring the 500,000+ jobs and 40% import savings achievable through renewables. Indigenous communities, who have legally challenged extraction for decades, are sidelined in favor of a narrative that treats energy as a commodity rather than a sacred or communal resource. Cross-culturally, Mexico’s approach mirrors Nigeria’s oil curse, where corporate control and environmental devastation outweigh economic benefits. A systemic shift requires dismantling fossil fuel subsidies, enforcing Indigenous rights, and building community-owned renewable infrastructure—pathways already proven in Oaxaca and Morocco. Without these changes, Mexico will remain trapped in a cycle of dependency, with the costs borne by its most vulnerable populations and ecosystems.