November 15, 2023--Researched by Amir Richani for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Mexico's newest refinery, the Olmeca Refinery in Paraiso, Tabasco, will not begin commercial operations this year, as had been expected. Petroleos Mexicanos' (Pemex) (Mexico City) 340,000-barrel-per-day (BBL/d) facility will not open before May 2024, as tests continue.

Works at Olmeca will continue with the sour water treatment unit's construction finalized and operating along with the demineralization plant, which is running at 30% capacity. The delays have also considerably increased Olmeca's construction costs, which are now double the initial estimates, according to various news sources.