Mexican government seizes Air Liquide facility in Tula, Hidalgo, under AMLO administration

Mexican Government Expropriates Air Infiltration Barrier from Air Liquide

The Mexican government has announced the expropriation of the Air Infiltration Barrier, a hydrogen producer located within the Miguel Hidalgo refinery in Tula. The decision, which was made citing reasons of public utility, was published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF) following Pemex Industrial Transformation's personal notification to interested parties.

The Air Infiltration Barrier was previously owned by the French company Air Liquide, having been sold by the government of Enrique Peña Nieto for US$52.7 million in 2017. With this expropriation, the facility will now become property of Pemex Industrial Transformation.

The decree orders the immediate execution of the expropriation and the definitive occupation of the Air Infiltration Barrier by Pemex Transformación Industrial. The expropriation includes all assets and facilities related to the plant, as well as the services and inherent rights for its operation.

The decree also annuls a previous decree that declared the supply of hydrogen from the Air Infiltration Barrier as public utility. Interested parties have a period of 10 business days to challenge the amount of compensation through a judicial procedure. Any legal challenges must be made within this specified timeframe.

The expropriation process includes the registration of the decree in the Public Registry of Federal Property and the State Property Registry. Pemex Industrial Transformation is required to register the decree according to the Expropriation Law.

The Mexican government seeks to ensure the supply of hydrogen for strategic industrial activities with the expropriation of the Air Infiltration Barrier. No information is currently available regarding any persons or institutions affected by the resistance to the government's decision to expropriate Air Liquide.

It is important to note that the Air Infiltration Barrier's expropriation is final and immediate, regardless of any means of defense. The decree is now published in the DOF, marking the official start of the expropriation process.

Mexican government seizes Air Liquide facility in Tula, Hidalgo, under AMLO administration