Restorative Justice and Post-Extractive Urban Transitions in Oil-Dependent Cities: The Case of Poza Rica, Mexico

Oil-dependent urban regions face persistent ecological and societal issues following extraction, including land degradation and infrastructural neglect. Despite the discourse on environmental justice and extractivism, a research gap exists regarding the transition of post-extractive cities from recognizing environmental harm to implementing territorial rehabilitation strategies. This study examines Poza Rica, Mexico, a critical city in the oil industry, as a case study for restorative justice and urban transition after extraction. Utilizing a qualitative case study approach with planning documents, technical reports, environmental regulations, spatial data, and community input, the research evaluates the territorial impacts of seventy years of oil extraction and explores restoration pathways. The results indicate a landscape characterized by abandoned wells, environmental liabilities, and the integration of former extraction zones into urban areas. In the Tampico–Misantla Basin, 49.5% of wells remain inactive, with only 2.7% meeting contemporary closure standards. In Poza Rica, nearly 98% of urban growth from 1997 to 2016 occurred in regions previously linked to oil extraction. The article posits that restorative justice in post-extractive cities necessitates more than mere financial restitution. It advocates for a territorial restitution framework centred on remediation, economic transformation, and community governance, illustrating how former extraction sites can evolve into assets for urban resilience and sustainable development.