MEXICO · ENERGY
Key Facts
- —What happened Pemex says two workers were injured at the refinery’s north gate.
- —Where Lázaro Cárdenas refinery in Minatitlán, southern Veracruz state.
- —When Late on Saturday, 10 October; Pemex reported it early Sunday.
- —Reported death Local outlets say one guard died; no official confirmation yet.
- —Suspects No arrests reported; accounts of the gunmen differ.
- —US travel advice The State Department rates Veracruz Level 2, increased caution.
Mexico’s state oil company has confirmed two injured workers but no death after a reported gun attack in Veracruz.
Pemex, Mexico’s state oil company, says two workers were injured at its Minatitlán refinery late on Saturday, 10 October. Local outlets in Veracruz describe an armed attack on the gate’s guard post and report that one security guard died.
Pemex has not confirmed any death, and Veracruz prosecutors had issued no official account by Sunday morning. The incident matters beyond Mexico because Pemex borrows heavily through dollar bonds sold to international investors, including in the United States.
What Pemex Confirmed About the Minatitlán Refinery
Pemex posted a short statement on its official X account at 2:05 a.m. local time on Sunday, 11 October. It said “two workers were injured at the north gate of the Minatitlán refinery.”
The company added that it is working with the competent authorities on the case. It promised further updates “as verified information becomes available.”
The statement did not describe a shooting, name the workers or say how badly they were hurt. It also did not say whether the refinery’s operations were affected.
The Minatitlán refinery, formally named after former president Lázaro Cárdenas, sits in the industrial south of Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico. Pemex runs it as part of its national refining system.
What Local Outlets Report
The Veracruz broadcaster XEU, citing local media, reported that the attack happened around 10 p.m. on Saturday near the Obrera neighbourhood. Its headline said one guard was killed and another wounded.
The Coahuila daily Vanguardia reported that armed men on a motorcycle fired at security staff at the gate’s guard booth and fled. It cited more than ten spent casings found at the scene.
Other accounts describe a single gunman who escaped on foot. The news site of journalist José Cárdenas said soldiers, marines and the National Guard cordoned off the area.
Vanguardia said the wounded worker was taken to the Pemex regional hospital in Minatitlán. No outlet cited an official source for the reported death.
Who Is Investigating
The Veracruz state prosecutor’s office, the Fiscalía General del Estado, handles homicide and assault cases in the state. Local reports said its investigators collected evidence at the gate overnight.
The office had not published a statement on the case by Sunday morning, according to the news site of José Cárdenas. No arrests have been reported.
Veracruz is governed by Rocío Nahle of Morena, the left-leaning party of President Claudia Sheinbaum.
What It Means for You
For investors, security at Pemex sites is part of the risk on the company’s dollar bonds. A one-off incident at a gate is not the same as damage to processing units, and Pemex has reported none.
For travellers, the US State Department rates Veracruz state at Level 2, “exercise increased caution,” citing terrorism and crime. The whole of Mexico carries the same Level 2 rating.
US citizens in southern Veracruz should follow local authorities and avoid the area around the refinery gates while the investigation continues.
What Is Not Known
It is not officially confirmed whether anyone died. The identities of the workers, the motive and the number of attackers are also unknown.
It is not known whether the guards worked directly for Pemex or for a contractor. Pemex has not said whether the attack affected refinery operations.
What Comes Next
Pemex has said it will publish more once facts are verified. The state prosecutor is expected to give the first official account, including any arrest or motive.
The incident does not, on present evidence, mean a halt to fuel output at the Minatitlán refinery. Neither Pemex nor the authorities have announced any shutdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Minatitlán refinery?
Pemex says two workers were injured at the refinery’s north gate late on Saturday, 10 October. Local outlets describe an armed attack on the guard post.
Did anyone die?
Local outlets report that one security guard died. Pemex and the Veracruz prosecutor have not confirmed a death.
Where is Minatitlán?
Minatitlán is an industrial city in southern Veracruz state, near the Gulf of Mexico. It is home to the Pemex refinery named after Lázaro Cárdenas.
Is Veracruz safe for US travellers?
The US State Department rates Veracruz at Level 2, “exercise increased caution,” due to terrorism and crime. That is the same level as Mexico as a whole.
Sources: Pemex statement on X; US State Department, Mexico Travel Advisory; XEU; Vanguardia; José Cárdenas; El Congresista (all accessed 11 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief