by the El Reportero‘s news services
Almost a decade after leaving office and five years after being extradited from Spain, former Pemex CEO Emilio Lozoya Austin is still awaiting trial on major corruption charges. His case, emblematic of the scandals that have long dogged Mexico’s state oil company, continues to reveal new names and unexpected connections.
Recent U.S. court documents have placed renewed spotlight on two other figures linked to questionable contracts and alleged bribes: Ramón Alexandro Rovirosa Martínez and Mario Alberto Ávila Lizárraga.
Ramón Alexandro Rovirosa Martínez
According to U.S. judicial records reviewed by Milenio, Rovirosa is the founder and CEO of Roma Energy, a Texas-based exploration and production company in the oil and gas industry. His business footprint, however, extends beyond the United States.
Born in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Rovirosa has established multiple ventures in Mexico, including Tubular Technology and Energy On Shore Services, both headquartered in his home state. These companies have been active players in the region’s oil-related supply chain.
Investigations by Infobae indicate that Pemex Exploration and Production (PEP) awarded over 82 million pesos—about US $4.4 million—to firms linked to Rovirosa between 2018 and 2021. According to Milenio, at least one of these contracts is suspected of involving illicit payments, specifically those awarded to Tubular Technology and Energy On Shore Services. These allegations, if substantiated, would place Rovirosa directly in the center of an ongoing corruption narrative.
Rovirosa, a qualified lawyer, has also been tied to other controversial figures. He previously served as “legal operator” for businessman Omar Vargas, who faced investigation for allegedly defrauding Pemex during the administration of President Vicente Fox (2000–2006). This link adds further weight to questions about Rovirosa’s long-term role in dealings connected to Mexico’s most important state-owned enterprise.
Mario Alberto Ávila Lizárraga
Ávila, originally from Campeche, rose to political prominence in 2009 when he ran for governor as the candidate of the National Action Party (PAN). He was defeated by PRI politician Fernando Ortega Bernés, who remained in office until 2015.
Ávila’s academic credentials include a business administration degree and postgraduate studies completed in Spain. His professional trajectory has taken him through both public service and private enterprise, but it was his time at Pemex that later attracted controversy.
Between 2010 and 2012, Ávila served as Pemex’s deputy director of maintenance and logistics. In 2015, government auditors imposed a 10-year ban on his eligibility for public office after identifying irregularities in contracts awarded to Oceanografía, a company embroiled in multiple fraud cases involving Pemex. Infobae also reported that Ávila faced accusations of using Pemex aircraft for personal purposes during his tenure.
More recently, Milenio, citing U.S. court filings, reported that Ávila allegedly acted “for the benefit” of Rovirosa and his companies in recent years. This allegation, if proven, would confirm a direct operational relationship between the two men after Ávila left Pemex.
Political reactions
President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the issue in a morning press conference, highlighting Ávila’s political affiliation.
“It is worth talking about the fugitive businessman because he is a member of the PAN,” Sheinbaum stated, stressing that PAN remains the country’s main opposition party.
She reminded the public: “He was a PAN candidate for the governorship of Campeche, he worked in Pemex, and he was accused of corruption.” She concluded, “He’s currently a fugitive and sought by the U.S. government.”
The Lozoya context
While Lozoya’s legal troubles are formally separate, his tenure as Pemex CEO from 2012 to 2016 under President Enrique Peña Nieto is widely viewed as a period when systemic weaknesses were exploited for personal and political gain. The accusations against him involve facilitating bribes and steering contracts toward certain companies, often with international connections.
The emergence of Rovirosa and Ávila in related investigations shows how deeply rooted questionable practices are within the energy sector. These cases illustrate that alleged wrongdoing is not limited to one administration or party, but rather has spanned decades, crossing political and corporate boundaries. The references to them in U.S. court documents also underline the international scope of these dealings.
Networks of influence
Rovirosa’s combination of legal expertise, corporate control in Mexico and the U.S., and history of associations with previously investigated businessmen suggests a career shaped by both formal authority and informal alliances. His access to Pemex contracts worth millions during a period of heightened oversight raises questions about the effectiveness of procurement controls at PEP.
Ávila’s path—from a high-profile political candidate to Pemex executive to sanctioned former official—reflects the revolving door between politics and lucrative corporate connections. Allegations that he collaborated with Rovirosa after leaving public service suggest a sustained overlap between political influence and private enrichment.
Legal status and next steps
At present, neither Rovirosa nor Ávila has faced trial in Mexico over the most recent allegations, though U.S. authorities reportedly have an active interest in locating Ávila. Lozoya’s own drawn-out case serves as a reminder of how slowly high-level corruption prosecutions often progress in Mexico, particularly when involving individuals with political connections.
For many observers, the intertwined cases of Lozoya, Rovirosa, and Ávila reflect the broader challenges facing Mexico’s anti-corruption efforts. Their stories span different political parties, presidential terms, and corporate interests, suggesting that prosecutions targeting individuals—while important—are not enough to dismantle entrenched systems of influence.
Pemex, once a source of national pride and a symbol of sovereignty, continues to face damage to its reputation due to repeated corruption scandals. The latest revelations underscore the urgent need for greater transparency in contract awards and for legal proceedings that move forward with both speed and credibility.
With information from Milenio, Reforma, Infobae, El Financiero.
