Natural gas regulations and the governments’ role
During the fourth conference of Altfuels Mexico 2017, “Safety, Norms and Standards”, three exhibitors addressed the need for new regulations for the development of the natural gas industry, in addition to complying with the current provisions of the national authorities.
Enrique González, of the National Association of Units of Verification of the Hydrocarbons Sector (ANUVSH), said: “Before the opening of the energy sector in Mexico, we have to look for new rules of participation of companies and individuals to achieve the best working context and collaboration on the subject of natural gas.” The ANUVSH, according to the executive, aims to group, organize and encourage active participation and represent companies that offer supervision in compliance with Mexican official standards.
On behalf of Diseño Especializado en Ingeniería y Sistemas Actualizados, S.A. de C.V. (DEISA), the engineer Salvador Segovia developed three key concepts in the management of natural gas: safety, legislation and standardization. This expert also referred to regulation, which consists in establishing raw material quality specifications, establishing quality standards in the service and developing evaluation methods in production. DEISA is an LNG verification unit and its main objective is the safe handling of these fuels.
As the president of the NGV International Academy, Mariarosa Baroni referred to the consultancy and advisory work of this organization, created at the request of Russia and Japan. One of the main purposes of the NGV International Academy is safety in the extraction, transportation, storage and use of natural gas. “Safety is training and knowledge for all participants in this industry. The academy offers this through different mechanisms,” said Baroni.
Later, the session “Mexico: the Governments’ Role” took place. Daniel Madero Suárez, general director of the National Center for Natural Gas Control (Cenagas). The official explained the work of the agency as technical manager, carrier and tender office for projects with private companies.
He commented on the investment of 7 billion in pipelines for the transportation of gas and another 1,648 million for various items, such as the rehabilitation and maintenance of gas pipelines and compressors, the Supervisory System for Data Acquisition Control (SCADA), the integrity of safety-based pipeline network and the modernization of monitoring systems and measuring stations.
Jorge Alfredo Longoria Treviño, from the Transport and Mobility Secretariat of Nuevo León, outlined a scenario of the road situation and mass public transport in the capital of the northern state. Among the actions that this government will take is the implementation of a multimodal card, the tariff integration and the stimulus for the use of alternative transport means. With 75% of the state territory with natural gas infrastructure, “we have the opportunity that this reordering of road and urban transport is based on the use of natural gas engines,” said the official.
https://www.ngvjournal.com/standards-and-regulations-for-natural-gas/