Since October 2020, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) has had a close relationship with the Sabinas coal region in Coahuila, which this Wednesday at 1:35 p.m. suffered a landslide that caused a sinkhole to be flooded in which they were left. trapped at least nine miners.
The State productive company formalized the purchase of 2 million tons of coal with 60 producers in the area, for 1,034.31 pesos per ton plus VAT, according to a document from the CFE itself.
73% of the purchase was awarded to micro and small producers, 16% to medium-sized economic agents and the remaining 11% to large producers.
On October 24, 2020, the CFE indicated in a statement that it “complied with the presidential instruction” to formalize the purchase of coal from 60 producers in the coal region of Sabinas, Coahuila.
According to the document, the purchase of 2 million tons of coal was made “under the principles of zero corruption and zero coyote”, a decision that “safeguards security and energy sovereignty” and, in turn, promoted the productive development of the area. .
The purchase, towards 60 producers, contemplated a price of 1,034.31 pesos per ton plus VAT. This was awarded 73% to micro and small producers, 16% to medium producers and the remaining 11% to large economic agents.
“The head of the federal Executive reaffirmed his commitment to support coal producers, in order to maintain sources of employment in the coal region, both for producers, workers and transporters, and in this way, maintain economic activity in the region. ”, he asserted.
Subsequently, the state production company underlined in a document dated February 10 of this year that it was “a success, the coal program instructed by the President of the Republic.”
Although he assured that 60 contracts were carried out for a total amount of 1,586 million pesos, for the acquisition of 1.5 million tons of coal, he added that in the coming weeks he would announce the details for the coal purchase tender. 2022, which would be a multi-year contract until 2024.
Months later, on July 21 of this year, the CFE indicated that, for the purchase of 3.18 million tons of coal , 52 contracts were assigned under the progressive distribution strategy “to benefit micro and small producers.”
He added that for the selection of possible suppliers of coking coal, 148 producers were identified from which, based on an inspection by the Mexican Geological Service and the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare , the companies were selected to allocate an expense for more of 3,845 million pesos, however, it does not indicate the location of these.
In the same document, he highlighted that so far in the current administration, the CFE obtained accumulated savings of more than 28,203 million pesos, as a result of “acting under the principles of austerity, efficiency and honesty, as well as the measures and adjustments implemented to combat corruption and face the challenges and international challenges”, he added.
Nightmare in the coal region this Wednesday
On the afternoon of this Wednesday, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador reported the collapse in a coal mine in the municipality of Sabinas, Coahuila, at 1:35 p.m., which caused a sinkhole to be flooded , where “apparently” , nine miners were trapped.
The Governor of Coahuila, Miguel Riquelme, through a tweet, lamented the accident that occurred at the scene, noting that it was in one of the coal pits on the way to Las Conchas, in Agujita, municipality of Sabinas.
“ Authorities of the three orders of government are already in the place. I will be attentive and giving support for the rescue of the miners,” he said, in addition to assuring that, “in a few more moments” it would be done, in a coordinated manner with the Government of Mexico.
According to various local media, so far two miners have been rescued alive.
Meanwhile, the Mining Chamber of Mexico lamented the incident that occurred in the mine, stressing that although the operation involved does not belong to any company affiliated with this organization, it contacted the authorities, with the aim of collaborating in the rescue efforts. .
