Mexico Publishes New CNG Standard

SEMARNAT, through the National Agency of Industrial Safety and Protection of the Environment of the Hydrocarbons Sector, published the Official Mexican Standard NOM-010-ASEA-2016 (Standard), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) on August 23. Included are statements about the minimum safety requirements for supply stations for motor vehicles.

A link to the document can be found on the Official Journal of the Federation at www.dof.gob.mx/normasOficiales.php?codp=6119&view=si

This Official Mexican Standard establishes the requirements and specifications for the design, construction and pre-start, operation, maintenance, closing and dismantling of transportable Storage Modules, as well as the Stations of Supply of Compressed Natural Gas for motor vehicles that use it as fuel.

The Standard explains that due to the characteristics of CNG station facilities and locations, which coexist in urban areas with high population rates, it is necessary for these activities to be carried out in compliance with the requirements and design specifications, construction, pre-start, operation, maintenance, closing and dismantling; to guarantee its development in a safe way.

The Standard applies throughout the national territory and is applicable to:

A. The Load Terminals of Transportable Storage Modules by Semitrailer, from the Natural Gas Inlet Valve to the Compression System to the CNG Transfer Point to the Transportable Storage Modules of the Semitrailer;

B. The supply stations to motor vehicles, from the valve of entry of Natural Gas to the System of Compression until the Point of Transfer of the CNG to the vehicular systems;

C. Transportable Storage Module Discharge Terminals per Semi-trailer, from the CNG Module reception area to the CNG delivery valve to the user, to the decompression facility or to the satellite station; and

D. The Satellite Stations from the point of reception of CNG to the Point of Transfer of the CNG to the vehicular systems.

Various non-inclusions are stated, including vehicles for the transport of CNG containers, vehicle recharge devices, and integrated CNG compression and dispensing equipment.

Complementary Standards

The publication states that the application of this Official Mexican Standard is complemented, among others, with the provisions of the current version of NOM-003-SECRE-2011 (Distribution of Natural Gas and Liquid Liquefied Petroleum Gas by Pipelines) and NOM-001-SEDE-2012 (Electrical installations (Use)), or their successors.

The new Standard takes effect 170 calendar days after its publication in the DOF.

SEMARNAT

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) is the dependence of the federal government in charge of promoting the protection, restoration and conservation of ecosystems and natural resources and environmental goods and services of Mexico, in order to promote their use and sustainable development.

Source: SEMARNAT