The black market for LP gas in the State of Mexico
Imagine a parallel universe, that of the State of Mexico, where the established order is dictated by almost 450 gas companies with their permits in order. Now, take a look at the dark side: more than 500 clandestine establishments operate there, an army of ghost businesses that are basically playing Free Fire with the security of entire communities. It is not an episode of Breaking Bad, it is the harsh reality denounced by formal businessmen in the sector, who, between anger and fear, see how this regulated chaos is becoming normalized.
The municipalities of Ecatepec, Chalco, Chimalhuacán, Texcoco and Chicoloapan are the epicenter of this irregular market, where unfair competition is the least of the problems. The real plot twist is the latent risk of mishaps that these facilities represent, a danger that Civil Protection authorities and concessionaires warn separately, as if they were watching the same horror movie from different seats.
The underground economy of huachicoleo and corruption
What does this clandestine ecosystem live on? Of practices that would make any illegal influencer pale. Here they specialize in gas huachicoleo, an extreme sport that consists of the theft of liquefied petroleum gas (LP) directly from Pemex pipelines or, with admirable nerve, from the same legitimate companies. The result: million-dollar annual losses for the formal industry, a business so profitable that it outnumbers establishments with official permits.
And here comes the detail that no one is surprised by: this large-scale operation would not be possible without the consent of the same authorities that should prevent it. According to the accusations, the owners of these illegal businesses pay between 150 thousand and 200 thousand pesos per month in money so that they are allowed to work in peace. A premium subscription to impunity, because in the end, as in any good plot, the villain has accomplices in high command.
One of the brave businessmen who own a plant in Ecatepec, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons (totally understandable, this is not a game), was clear: “These clandestine gas stations do not comply with the Official Mexican Standard NOM-008-ASEA-2019”. What does that mean in Christian? They use tanks with expired useful lives, valves that look more like decorations, and Civil Protection programs that exist only in an alternate universe. Their facilities, with obsolete equipment and personnel without the slightest training, are deadly risks, especially since many are strategically located near schools and homes. Such a clear violation of the state Civil Protection Law that it hurts.
Rolling pipes and reckless drivers
If the scene on land wasn’t terrifying enough, transportation adds its own touch of adrenaline. Let’s imagine pipes with capacities of up to 45 thousand liters of LP gas circulating on the roads as if they were toy cars. NOM-010-ASEA-2016 requires maintenance logs and annual reviews to detect corrosion or leaks, but the reality is that many units exceed 10 years of useful life, have worn tanks, defective valves and lack GPS or current insurance. Basically, they are time bombs on wheels.
To make matters worse, drivers, many without adequate training, become the protagonists of their own action movie, exceeding 70 kilometers per hour on roads like Mexico-Puebla. And as if the risk were not enough, they park these pipes on public roads, increasing the chances of collisions that could release flammable gas in seconds. An operator from a company in Santa Catarina Ayotzingo, in Chalco, summed it up with a crudeness that is shocking: “We bring an Isuzu vehicle that is two years old, is almost new and is in good mechanical condition, but there are other pipes from other companies that are more than 10 years old and the truth is that it is a risk for both the workers themselves and the customers.”
The supply to buses and vans, that vital service for public transportation, occurs in stations with expired certificates and inexperienced operators, flagrantly violating NOM-004-ASEA-2017. High staff turnover causes critical errors, such as carrying out transfers in closed spaces where gas accumulates, ready to detonate at the slightest spark. A Molotov cocktail of negligence and impunity.
Jesús Clara, director of municipal Civil Protection of Ecatepec, uncovered the cake of the last administration: “In the last administration they gave apocryphal and invalid opinions for the installation of more than 80 clandestine gas stations”. His team took on the task of suspending approximately 120 that were, for the most part, operating irregularly. A poisoned inheritance that continues to put the population at risk.
This is the devastating panorama of a vital sector hijacked by illegality and corruption, where the safety of millions is the price of a successful business. Share this information on your social networks to raise awareness and explore more content related to energy regulation and industrial safety.
