The gas that powers Mexico also faces its own bottleneck, and despite efforts to strengthen the energy supply, the logistics of LP gas and natural gas are based on a vulnerable network , increasingly dependent on road transport due to a lack of operational pipelines and sufficient storage, specialists warned.

During the Midstream Forum Mexico 2025 , organized by Grupo T21 ( Energy21  and  T21 ), industry analysts agreed that the weakness of the infrastructure made road transport the backbone and the most fragile point of the supply system.

Rocío Robles, executive president of the Mexican Association of Liquefied Gas Distributors and Related Companies (Amexgas) , explained that a large part of the gas sold in the country is transported by road, which represents a cost up to 17 times higher than pipeline transport .

Added to this are the recurring closures on strategic routes and security incidents in different sections, where carriers end up paying up to a thousand pesos per crossing in areas such as Zacatecas, Orizaba or Hidalgo, he explained.

Robles warned that the lack of infrastructure and the absence of clear regulations leave the country vulnerable to disruptions in the LP gas supply. He noted that coordination is still lacking to guarantee continuity and security of supply.

For his part, Gamaliel Corral, CEO of Gasoducto de Morelos , noted that around 70% of the natural gas consumed in Mexico comes from the United States, while domestic production covers only 30%.

This dependence, he said, creates vulnerability to external events such as the 2021 Texas Freeze , when pipeline freezing disrupted the country’s gas supply. Although the national gas pipeline network spans more than 18,000 kilometers, much of its capacity remains underutilized due to a lack of coordination between the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and the private sector, he explained.

The growth of liquefied natural gas (LNG) is emerging as an alternative for industrial areas without pipeline connections. Carlos Boone, Director of Business Intelligence and Corporate Affairs at Énestas Mexico , explained that LNG allows for serving regions where traditional infrastructure doesn’t reach, through a “virtual pipeline” model.

However, he noted that the development of new liquefaction plants can take up to three and a half years, which limits its immediate expansion.

Meanwhile, Susana Cazorla, director of SICEnrgy & Madero , explained that Mexico has only 34 LP gas storage terminals —one more than in 2018— and only three active pipelines for its transport.

Residential demand, which accounts for about 80% of national consumption , depends almost entirely on tank trucks and 20-30 kilogram cylinders, which raises logistics costs and multiplies the risks in distribution.

Experts agreed that the future of energy supply lies not in competition between LP gas and natural gas, but in the ability to generate a balanced energy mix.

The key, they pointed out, is to incentivize private investment, strengthen storage , and coordinate the government with transport and distribution companies.

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The implementation of volumetric control and fuel traceability has become one of the biggest challenges for land transport, where technology, operational coordination and tax compliance are now inseparable pieces, according to specialists.

Luis Eduardo Chavarría Meza , CEO of Kepler Oil & Gas , warned that technology should be an ally and not an obstacle.

“Technology has already caught up with us: today volumetric control depends not only on software , but also on electronic components and the reconciliation between operations and accounting,” he stated during the  Midstream Forum Mexico 2025 , organized by Grupo T21 ( Energy21  and  T21 ).

Chavarría stressed that the lack of communication between the operational and accounting areas has resulted in financial penalties.

“I can bet that more than 20% of companies have already received some sanction from the Tax Administration Service (SAT) , not for bad practices, but for inconsistencies between accounting and operational records,” he said.

For his part, Andrés Bayona Insignares, founding partner of Promotora Energética E3 , explained that the case of vehicular and compressed natural gas demonstrates how traceability also applies to road transport, in a context where Mexico imports more than 70% of its gas from the United States.

“The control is very well defined from the beginning; the risk is not in the operation, but in administrative errors or poorly documented reports to the authority,” he pointed out.

The specialist added that, given the lack of pipeline infrastructure, “truck transport” continues to be the most used means, which implies higher costs and vulnerability in tracking volumes.

Meanwhile, Pablo César Gualdi , president and CEO of ATIO Group , warned that quantitative traceability is essential to maintain the integrity of the logistics chain.

“Quantitative traceability is fundamental to preventing illegally sourced fuel from entering the system; without full implementation of volumetric controls, the system remains vulnerable,” he stressed.

According to industry experts, compliance with traceability and measurement standards directly impacts hydrocarbon transportation, which must adapt to new technological requirements, verification processes, and real-time electronic records.

At the event, the panelists agreed that traceability is not only an administrative requirement, but also a tool for competitiveness and transparency that will determine the future of logistics in the Mexican energy sector.

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En el marco de la nueva legislación impulsada por la administración de Claudia Sheinbaum, que abre oportunidades para renovar, invertir e innovar en una etapa de la cadena de valor energética, se realizará el Midstream Forum México 2025, un evento de Grupo T21 organizado por Energy21 y T21, que reunirá a líderes del sector energético el próximo 27 de octubre en el Club Piso 51 de Torre Mayor, en Ciudad de México.

Bajo el eje temático “Transformación del Midstream: Negocio, regulación y futuro”, el foro contará con la participación de cerca de 25 especialistas y tomadores de decisiones del sector, distribuidos en cinco paneles.

En el panel uno titulado “Seguridad energética y soberanía: Nuevas políticas para equilibrar el mercado”, participarán especialistas como Juan Carlos González Magallanes, Of Counsel de Ibáñez Parkman; Sebastián Figueroa, CEO & Co-founder de Fullgas; Eduardo Dorantes, profesor-investigador de la Facultad de Ingeniería de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), y Celeste Rebora, directora de Relaciones Institucionales y Sostenibilidad de Grupo Valoran.

El panel dos “Impactos del nuevo marco normativo en el transporte y almacenamiento de combustibles”, contará con las intervenciones de Marcial Díaz Ibarra, presidente de la Asociación de Regulados del Sector Energético (ARSE); Sayonara Jarillo, consultora independiente; Alicia Zazueta, CEO de Eservices; Fabiola Tomasini, socia senior de GMB Abogados, y Omar Camacho, General Manager de Motive México.

“Control volumétrico y trazabilidad: Regulación, tecnología y cumplimiento” es el tercer panel, el cual contará con las intervenciones de Luis Eduardo Chavarría Meza, CEO de Kepler Oil & Gas; Regina González, asociada de Von Wobeser y Sierra; Sergio Estrada, presidente de la Academia Mexicana de Derecho Energético (AMDE); Andrés Gutiérrez Torres, CEO y Co-founder de CIEFSA, y Pablo César Gualdi, CEO y Co-founder de ATIO Group.

Panel four, “Public-Private Collaboration: Toward a Sustainable and Efficient Model ,” will feature Roberto Díaz de León, general director of Combured ; Ramsés Pech, energy and economics advisor; Ana Margarita Pérez, consulting partner at MarEnergy ; and Víctor Hugo Arellano, technical and regulatory director of Onexpo Nacional .

Finally, the final panel, “Natural Gas and LPG: Security, Supply, and New Market Routes,” will feature key figures such as Alejandro Montufar, CEO and Co-founder of PETROIntelligence ; Gamaliel Corral, CEO of Gasoducto de Morelos ; Rocío Robles, Executive President of AMEXGAS ; Adriana Muñoz, Commercial Deputy Director of SAC Transportes ; and Susana Cazorla, Director and Founding Partner of SICEnrgy & Madero .

In addition, the Midstream Forum Mexico 2025 will feature a keynote address by Víctor Hugo Juárez Cuevas , CEO of Edge Innovation , entitled “The regulatory impact of the State on oil products . ”

What does the Midstream Forum Mexico 2025 off?

The event will be organized around three pillars : Connect , which will offer opportunities to network with leaders in the energy and hydrocarbon sectors; Collaborate, which will allow for debate and proposals for solutions to current midstream challenges; and Learn , which will provide access to expert perspectives on Mexico’s energy future.

The midstream sector is an important component of hydrocarbon transportation, storage, and marketing, and is currently undergoing a decisive phase in Mexico. In this context, the Midstream Forum Mexico 2025 is consolidating as a space for strategic dialogue, collaboration, and the development of solutions that boost the country’s competitiveness and energy security .

You still have time to participate by registering at this link: Midstream Forum Mexico 2025 .

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The publication of the new Regulations of the Hydrocarbon Sector Law , disseminated by the Ministry of Energy (Sener) in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) on October 3, 2025 , marked the beginning of a stricter stage for companies participating in the LP gas value chain: from transportation and storage to marketing and sale, according to Marcial Díaz Ibarra , managing partner of QUA Energy Consulting .

In this regard, the document significantly reduces the maximum validity of permits , eliminates automatic extensions , and requires new applications to be processed from scratch at the end of each period (which may be two, five, 15, or 30 years, depending on the activity).

At the same time, it imposes stricter technical, financial, and traceability criteria , linked to each applicant’s compliance history and asset documentation.

Economic load and operational brake

For Marcial Díaz, the impact will not be minor: “The increase in administrative and financial requirements will translate into higher costs for preparing files, certifications, and supporting reports. A process that could previously be completed in weeks could now require months of document integration, with a significant financial burden for medium and small permit holders,” he explained.

The technical challenge of transport

From the perspective of specialized transportation, César Alberto López Cornejo , head of Logistics and Transportation at Energéticos Nieto , emphasized that the effects will be felt immediately, both in the costs per liter distributed and in the logistics operation.

“Compliance with the new regulations could increase the price of LP gas distributed by between 30 and 40 cents per liter—or cubic meter. This represents a considerable increase when we’re talking about large volumes,” he explained.

New requirements include the installation of QR codes, unit markings, GPS integration with reporting every 30 seconds, and digital traceability systems linked to the Agency for Safety, Energy and Environment (ASEA) .

“Complying with all of this within a 20-day period is impossible for medium-sized or large fleets. Not only because of the equipment, but also because of the lack of certified operators for this type of transport,” he warned.

Adding to the regulatory pressure is the shortage of operators trained in handling hazardous materials.
“Many companies lack the infrastructure or specific training centers, and now they will be required to ensure that each operator is certified. This will make compliance even more expensive and reduce the sector’s operational capacity,” said López Cornejo.

Digitalization and new regulatory dashboard

In parallel, the National Energy Commission (CNE) published the new Single Application Form for the Public Sale of Petroleum Products . Effective October 6, 2025 , this form incorporates modules for georeferencing, online tax validation, and contract and brand traceability , which will require companies to fully digitize their technical and financial files , according to QUA Energy Consultores.

The October regulatory changes are not limited to LP gas. With the entry into force of the Regulation and the publication of new agreements by the CNE, Mexico is moving toward a centralized energy management model , where traceability, digital oversight, and fiscal transparency are consolidated as pillars of institutional control, according to QUA Energy Consulting.

“The challenge isn’t to resist change, but to anticipate it, document it, and manage it with technical and legal strategy,” said Marcial Díaz Ibarra.

To delve deeper into the challenges and opportunities that this new regulatory scenario brings, Grupo T21 ( ENERGY21 and T21 ) will bring together specialists and decision-makers at the Midstream Forum Mexico 2025 , which will take place on October 27 at Club 51 of Torre Mayor, in Mexico City .

This is a key meeting to analyze the transformation of the energy sector and the strategic role of hydrocarbon transportation, storage, and marketing in the country . Click here to access the forum that will define the direction of the energy sector in Mexico.

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