Joining forces to eliminate mercury use and manage waste in the chloralkali sector in Mexico
Photo credit: UNEP
Mexico's Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) is joining forces with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Global Environment Facility, and other partners in a new project to eliminate the use of mercury in the chloralkali sector to protect human health and the environment while promoting sustainable industrial practices.
This pioneering project, the first of its kind in the Latin America and the Caribbean region, is being implemented by UNEP and executed by UNIDO. It represents a crucial step toward supporting Mexico's efforts to comply with the Minamata Convention, which requires the phase-out of mercury use in the chloralkali industry by 2025. The project will receive $12 million in funding from the GEF and co-financing from project partners.
Part of the project’s objectives are developing and implementing plans for the safe management and disposal of mercury wastes, transitioning to sustainable technologies and practices in line with international standards, and strengthening institutional and technical capacities for long-term mercury waste management.
“The implementation of this project marks a significant milestone in Mexico’s and UNEP’s efforts to enhance hazardous waste management, advance towards a cleaner economy, and fulfill the commitments under the Minamata Convention, which seeks to protect human health and the environment from the harmful effects of mercury on a global level,” stated Dolores Barrientos, UNEP Representative in Mexico and Focal Point for Guatemala.
The chloralkali industry is a chemical sector that produces chlorine and sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) through the electrolysis of sodium chloride. These chemicals are essential for various industrial processes like chlorine and sodium hydroxide and are used in everything from water disinfection and life-saving medicines to keeping swimming pools clean, but traditional production methods often involve the use of mercury.
Despite not being the largest emitter, globally the chloralkali industry is a major user of mercury, emitting an average of 1.4 tons annually since 2020, with significant impacts on workers’ health, community well-being, and environmental integrity. These impacts relate to the disposal of excess mercury, environmental management and the costs of decommissioning production units and remediating contaminated sites.
The initiative, called "Eliminate Mercury Use and Adequately Manage Mercury and Mercury Wastes in the Chloralkali Sector in Mexico," was launched in Monterrey during a two-day inception workshop attended by representatives of all the stakeholders involved, including the Minamata Convention Secretariat and the private sector.
The project expected outputs include the decommissioning of mercury-cell-based facilities, development of decontamination and remediation plans for affected sites in Monterrey and Coatzacoalcos, the establishment of technical guidelines aligned with international best practices, and capacity-building for national stakeholders to enhance mercury management capabilities.
The inception workshop served as a platform for stakeholders to discuss project activities, expected outcomes, and the roadmap for achieving the project's goals.
Originally published by UNEP.
