Transition Industries LLC, based in Houston, TX, today announced its 2025 goals towards upholding its commitment to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). The company’s Human Rights Policy, which also applies to the Pacifico Mexinol project, a 6,145 MT per day ultra-low carbon methanol production facility in the Ahome Municipality of Sinaloa, Mexico, commits to annual assessments and action plans to mitigate potential human rights risks and continued engagement on human rights aspects with local stakeholders, including vulnerable populations.
“In addition to our commitment towards aligning with the UNGPs, we also adhere to the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, which provides guidance on how to manage our corporate and project security. The duty to respect and protect human rights is foundational to how we operate,” said Juan Carlos Franco, Transition Industries’ Country Security Director, based in the company’s Mexico City office.
In 2024, the company contracted international and Mexican environmental and social consultancies to complete an internationally aligned Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the Pacifico Mexico project. The ESIA included predictive analysis of potential human rights risks to rights-holders that could be associated with the project once it begins construction in 2025.
The ESIA identified various risk mitigations specific to international human rights compliance which the company has completed, including development of a Community Relations and Indigenous Rights Policy, Project Security Management Plan, Project Community Feedback Mechanism and updated Stakeholder Engagement Plan, building on over five years of engagement and including processes for Informed Consultation and Participation. These plans and processes will be made public on the company and project websites and through engagement in local communities in 2025.
A Project Strategic Community Investment Plan, which can often enhance human rights, has also been developed which incorporates perspectives of local community members based on targeted engagement and data from Community Participatory Studies conducted by social scientists from the Autonomous Indigenous University of Mexico (UAIM). The plan will be rolled out in 2025.
The ESIA also focused on the potential risk factors associated with gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH). Mitigations included the completion of a Gender Equity and Inclusion Policy and Project GBVH Risk Management Plan, carried out with the participation of local gender specialists and government institutions, including the Women’s Secretariat in Ahome. In 2025, the company will partner with the Secretariat and NGOs to implement the plan, including training project workforce and local communities on legal, psychological and economic empowerment issues aimed at eradicating GBVH.
The company has also undertaken a corporate-level Human Rights Self-Assessment, utilizing the Human Rights Compliance Assessment (HCRA) tool developed by the Danish Institute for Human Rights. In 2025, the company will seek third-party validation of the results of the self-assessment. The company intends to begin human rights compliance checks with its business partners across its value chain in 2025 as part of its Supplier Code of Conduct.
About Transition Industries
Transition Industries LLC, based in Houston, Texas, is a developer of world-scale, net-zero carbon emissions methanol and hydrogen projects in North America to address climate change and promote environmental and social sustainability. Transition Industries is jointly developing the Pacifico Mexinol project with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241204987736/en/
Contacts
For additional information about Pacifico Mexinol or Transition Industries, email Karin Nunan, Head of Corporate Affairs, Knunan@transitionind.com
