What are the Environmental Impacts of Privatizing Mexico's Oil Industry?

Anaya, Eduardo

What are the Environmental Impacts of Privatizing Mexico's Oil Industry?

Persistent URL

http://hdl.handle.net/10456/46136

Author(s)

Anaya, Eduardo

Date Issued

April 3, 2018

Abstract

In 2013, the Mexican Government, under President Peña Nieto, approved energy reforms to increase economic output in the energy sectors. The denationalization of Mexico's state owned oil industry opened up the industry to private firms and investors worldwide. The reforms promised economic growth and access to deep offshore oil reserves in the Gulf of Mexico. However, offshore oil drilling has had catastrophic environmental effects throughout the world leaving behind damaged ecology and marine life. With the Gulf of Mexico being the main sight of drilling activity, the Gulf of Mexico and coastal communities are possibly facing environmental degradation and contamination. The goal of this paper is to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with increased offshore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. In this study, I use a comparative case study approach to examine the impacts of two major offshore oil spills, the BP Deepwater Horizon in 2010 and the Ixtoc-I in 1979. Using documentary analysis of government documents and academic articles, I demonstrate the range of possible impacts linked to major oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico. My findings show that the ecological impacts of offshore oil spills are catastrophic to coastal communities and ecological biota and may be exacerbated if oil companies disregard protocol and safety. These findings and ecological impacts are also exacerbated by the fact that contingency technology has not improved as can be noted in both case studies.

Major

Environmental Studies

First Reader(s)

Bethurem, Matt