OREANDA-NEWS. January 17, 2018. Mexico plans to launch a series of tenders for natural gas storage capacity this year, a draft policy published last month by the energy ministry says.

Gas pipeline and storage administrator Cenagas will be required to keep at least 45bn ft (1.26bn m) of gas in storage by 2025, representing five days of domestic consumption, under the proposals. Preference will be given to new storage capacity located underground in deposits deemed unprofitable to develop, although other storage options will be considered if underground capacity is unavailable.

Data including geological information will be available to companies interested in participating in the tenders that Cenagas plans to hold this year.

The draft policy states that all permit holders will have to file regular reports on volumes produced, transported, stored and distributed, from 1 September. The energy ministry will then publish supply and demand assessments, and gas storage volumes, the policy says. A response plan establishing guidelines on how Cenagas' strategic inventories might be deployed in an emergency should be published by June. Market participants have until 28 January to comment on the proposals.