Mexico makes push for fracking despite environmental concerns

Home Shows Focus To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Cover image: FOCUS © FRANCE 24 04:59 Issued on: 06/10/2026 - 14:55 From the show Following months of consultations with energy experts, Mexico is preparing to tap its shale oil and gas reserves using one of the world's most controversial extraction techniques: fracking. The process is already used to extract oil in the southeastern state of Veracruz, where local communities have long complained of pollution and environmental damage. But the administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum is seeking to reduce Mexico's reliance on the United States and – eventually – achieve energy self-sufficiency. FRANCE 24's Quentin Duval and Laurence Cuvillier report.