Greenberg Traurig Examines Mexico’s New Natural Gas Regulatory Framework

Greenberg Traurig | On May 6, 2026, the National Agency for Industrial Safety and Environmental Protection of the Hydrocarbons Sector (ASEA) published Official Mexican Standard NOM-022-ASEA-2026 in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF). This standard establishes technical specifications and safety requirements for Natural Gas compression facilities for transportable storage modules, as well as dedicated service stations for the retail sale of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for automotive vehicles.

The new regulation explicitly cancels and replaces NOM-010-ASEA-2016.

I. Purpose and Scope
The standard regulates industrial safety, operational safety, and environmental protection during the design, construction, operation, and maintenance phases. It is mandatory throughout Mexico for regulated entities engaged in:

Natural Gas compression for charging Transportable Storage Modules (MAT).

Retail sales of Compressed Natural Gas for automotive vehicles.

II. Facility Classification
The standard establishes five distinct facility categories:

Type A: Natural Gas compression for MAT charging.

Type B1: Service stations receiving Natural Gas via pipeline.

Type B2: Service stations receiving CNG via MAT.

Type B3: Service stations equipped with a mobile storage and supply unit.

Type C: Combined facilities that share a compression system for both MAT charging and retail sales.

III. Conformity Assessment and Opinions
Conformity assessments will involve documentary and physical reviews conducted by Inspection Units accredited by an Accreditation Entity and approved by ASEA. Regulated entities must obtain the following opinions:

Design Opinion: Required for new Type A, B1, B2, and C facilities, or upon significant modifications to the original design (including capacity expansions, facility type changes, increases in fuel dispensers, root-cause investigation recommendations, or post-accident reconstruction).

Construction Opinion: Issued after the completion of the Pre-Startup Safety Review (RSPA) and the closing minutes. Receipt of this opinion authorizes the commencement of operations.

Operation and Maintenance Opinion: Required annually for all facility types. For Type B3 facilities, this assessment will remain annual until national regulations for mobile storage and supply units are enacted, after which it will transition to a five-year cycle.

IV. Entry into Force and Transitory Provisions
NOM-022-ASEA-2026 will take effect 180 calendar days following its publication in the DOF, officially rendering NOM-010-ASEA-2016 null and void.

Facilities operational prior to the effective date are exempt from the Design and Construction chapters, provided no modifications have been made to their original design. Regulated entities will have a transitional period of 90 calendar days from the effective date to comply with the Operation and Maintenance Chapter.

Facilities currently under construction that hold an approved design opinion under NOM-010-ASEA-2016 may continue under that framework, unless original design modifications occur. Existing opinions issued under the previous standard will remain legally recognized until their scheduled expiration dates.

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