Mexico Considers Fracking to Reduce Dependence on US Gas Imports

(MENAFN) Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday unveiled plans to tap into the country’s natural gas reserves using hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, in an effort to reduce reliance on imports from the United States.

The proposal involves developing Mexico’s unconventional gas resources, a method that has long been criticized for its environmental and health impacts.

During her morning press briefing, Sheinbaum said her administration is exploring fracking as part of a broader strategy to strengthen energy independence.

“The first is energy sovereignty. We consume unconventional gas; Mexico consumes unconventional gas. It is just 100 meters (3,937 feet) from the border, except that it is in Texas. Seventy-five percent of the gas Mexico consumes is unconventional gas, only it is exploited in the United States,” she said.

Mexico has seen a steady rise in natural gas imports from the US over the past three years.

According to energy data cited in reports, the country imported an average of 6.638 billion cubic feet per day in 2025, a record level.

Figures from the US Energy Information Administration indicate Mexico consumes around 8.6 billion cubic feet of gas daily, with roughly three-quarters of that supply coming from the United States.

Although Sheinbaum has emphasized strong bilateral ties with the administration of US President Donald Trump, she stressed that expanding domestic energy production is a matter of national interest.

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