Derrame minero en Zacatecas: Profepa cierra temporalmente parte de depósito de Peñoles
Mexico’s federal environmental protection agency, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa), issued an administrative order requiring the temporary partial closure of a mining tailings deposit at the underground Minera Sabinas facility. Operated by Industrias Peñoles in the municipality of Sombrerete, Zacatecas, the underground mining complex focuses on the extraction of silver, lead, zinc, and copper. The regulatory enforcement action followed an alert issued by a participatory environmental vigilance committee, leading federal inspectors to execute an on-site inspection on Oct. 8, 2026.
According to official findings, heavy rainfall across the region caused mining tailings, defined as pulverized rock residue remaining after metal extraction, to escape containment infrastructure. The spilled material propagated across 13.58 kilometers of a small river before ultimately reaching the Suchil River.
The administrative order mandates immediate containment actions, cleanup operations, and comprehensive ecological impact studies to evaluate and mitigate environmental damage. Industrias Peñoles continues to coordinate with federal environmental regulators to address the operational and environmental implications of the incident.
Source: El Financiero
Original Press Release: https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/estados/2026/10/20/derrame-minero-en-zacatecas-profepa-cierra-temporalmente-parte-de-deposito-de-penoles/
