Mexico City, Mexico — New safety measures for LP gas transportation throughout the country have been announced. The new measures came after a Mexico City LP gas truck explosion in September that left 19 dead.
On Thursday, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) has published the new measures for LP gas transportation. The new laws address industrial safety and respond to the need to minimize accidents involving tankers.
“It’s a result of this terrible accident that occurred on the Puente de la Concordia Bridge. Upon reviewing the current safety regulations for this type of transport, both the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation realized that these tankers required much greater surveillance, inspection and control,” she explained.
Sheinbaum said there will be inspections that include tests, not just visual inspections, but all vehicles transporting LP gas must have a speed governor so they cannot travel faster than the legal limit and that all vehicles be continuously monitored via their GPS, which is now mandatory in such vehicles.
Energy Secretary Luz Elena González Escobar explained that these are two new regulations to strengthen the regulation of LP gas transportation and distribution, currently governed by Standard 007-SESH-2010.
It will be mandatory to verify the maintenance of units and to certify safety tests such as tightness (leaks) or hydrostatic pressure. In addition to vehicle handling skills, drivers must be trained in industrial safety. This will be accredited by a competency standard, she explained.
The new NOM-EM-006-ASEA-2025 on transportation establishes a four-month compliance period. NOM-EM-007-ASEA-2025, which establishes distribution standards, states that units with a capacity greater than 5,000 liters and older than 10 years have four months to comply.
Various institutions are implementing a joint inspection plan which includes a review of facilities, the physical and mechanical condition of units and container security features. They will also review the validity of permits, vehicle registration and evidence of compliance with obligations.
In September, a speeding tanker transporting LP gas in Mexico City hit a concrete barrier while taking a corner under a busy city overpass. Initially, 70 people were reported injured and three killed. The number of deceased climbed to 19. The driver of the tanker that caused the accident was not seriously injured.
