Mitsubishi/Exportadora de Sal

Despite the cancellation of Exportadora de Sal’s (ESSA) project by President Ernesto Zedillo on March 2, 2000, the Mitsubishi’s Industrial Salt Production project continues to pose a threat to the Laguna San Ignacio Wetland Complex. The decision of the federal government of granting a new salt production concession in 2001 is evidence that San Ignacio lagoon is still in jeopardy.

ESSA was, and continues to be, owned by Mitsubishi (49%) and the Mexican Government (51%). The cancelled industrial salt production project was a private/government venture. Mexican government officials have been discretly considering divesting Mexico’s interest in ESSA. A private company purchasing the Mexican government’s 51% interest would not be subject to President Zedillo’s cancellation of the private/government venture. In effect, the industrial salt project would be transformed into a new and viable project.

The industrial salt production project’s components would have a devastating impact on the lagoon complex. One-hundred-and-sixteen square miles would be converted into evaporative and crystallization ponds. Six thousand gallons of saltwater per-second would be pumped by 17 diesel engines operating around the clock. A 1.2 mile-long pier would be built in the nearby town of Punta Abreojos (Ejido El Baturi). An industrial complex and a planned community to house temporary and permanent workers would be built near the lagoon.

These installations would result in major changes to the area. Intense economic activity would undoubtedly draw people in search of employment and thereby negatively exert pressures on the currently pristine environment and gray whale sanctuary.