A new facility designed to monitor, manage, and convert sargassum seaweed into clean biofuel has been launched in Quintana Roo, addressing one of the region’s most persistent environmental challenges.
The Comprehensive Sargassum Sanitation and Circular Economy Center, announced by Governor Mara Lezama on Saturday, aims to transform what has been an environmental liability costing the state approximately US$2 billion annually—equivalent to 11% of local GDP—into an economic asset.
The project, first proposed in February, will not only handle the monitoring and collection of the troublesome seaweed but will also treat wastewater and produce biomethane from organic waste and sargassum. Plans include installing three new wastewater treatment plants in Cancún’s hotel zone.
A Dutch consortium consisting of Dutch Clean Tech and Oceanus International will handle the financing, design, construction, and operation of the center, implementing cutting-edge Dutch and Mexican technology for biodigestion processes.
The facility comes at a critical time, as scientists predicted record levels of sargassum would wash up on Quintana Roo’s beaches throughout summer 2025. Last year, joint efforts by the Navy, state and municipal authorities, and civil society removed almost 40,000 tons of sargassum from the region.
While beneficial in open ocean ecosystems, large quantities of sargassum reaching the coast can harm marine life, plants, coral, and human health. As it decomposes, it emits a foul odor similar to rotten eggs, negatively impacting tourism.
Results from a study on sargassum utilization, endorsed by certifying agency Aenor-Mexico, are expected in November and will further inform the center’s development.
For more details, you can visit the full article on Mexico News Daily.
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