Pirates raid PEMEX platform in Campeche: there are injured, union reports

Campeche, February 15. A group of "pirates" assaulted the Zapp Delta platform of Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) in the Campeche Sound.

The attack was reported by the Section 47 of the Petroleum Workers Union, who reported the theft of belongings and assaults on employees.

The assailants beat several workers. Two of them sustained serious injuries and were taken to the Pemex General Hospital for medical attention.

This is how the assault on the Zapp Delta platform occurred

The attack occurred on the night of February 14, when an armed group boarded the platform and took control of the facilities. The base is part of the Ku Maloob Zaap complex, one of the most productive oil areas in the country.

The pirates remained on the platform until dawn. During the assault, the staff called for help, but received no response.

The petroleum union reported that once subdued, the workers were stripped of their belongings and beaten.

The Ku Maloob Zaap complex represents 40% of the national oil production, with an estimated 1.68 million barrels per day.

Crisis at Pemex: crude with excess water and protests

The state-owned Pemex faces various problems, from crude rejection in the U.S. to hunger strikes due to poor working conditions.

This week, refineries in Texas and Louisianarejected shipments of Mexican oil for containing up to 6% water. This amount exceeds standards and complicates its refining.

Sheinbaum downplays the contaminated crude issue

Claudia Sheinbaum downplayed the complaints, assuring that the presence of water in the oil is common and that the problem will be solved in 10 days.

"It's not that with water and salt the crude goes bad. It's a temporary issue and there are technical mechanisms to remove the water and salinity," the official stated.

Víctor Rodríguez Padilla, director of Pemex, denied that U.S. refineries have rejected shipments, although he acknowledged there were complaints.

"If they complain, it's penalized with cents on the price, and it's always subject to negotiation," the official commented.

Protests on platforms over spoiled food

Pemex also faces an internal crisis. Workers on the Pol-Alfa platform started a hunger strike after reporting that the food they receive is in poor condition.

"It's a problem that we are already addressing through the Coordination of Food, Hospitality, and Personnel Transportation," stated the director of Pemex.

The employees accuse that Pemex hasn't paid the company contracted for the food service, which has led to the distribution of low-quality food.

Some workers reported gastrointestinal illnesses, which intensified the protests and the demand for better working conditions.