The short version
- El Vocero reported that natural gas powering part of the San Juan generating units could run out at 1:00 a.m. Saturday with no confirmed date for the next shipment
- According to El Vocero the AEE asked the federal court to order NFEnergía LLC to allow other companies to deliver LNG at its terminal
- El Vocero reported the government wants NFE to disclose remaining fuel amounts expected arrival of next vessel and whether its facilities can receive third-party gas
- NotiCel reported the governor said failed attempts to berth the Amur River barge caused use of more expensive diesel whose costs will appear in customer bills
Urgent Motion Filed Friday
The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (AEE) warned that the natural gas keeping part of the San Juan generating units operational could be exhausted by 1:00 a.m. Saturday, El Vocero reported. El Vocero reported In response the government returned to federal court to demand that New Fortress Energy (NFE) allow fuel deliveries from other suppliers to prevent further power supply interruptions.
An email sent at 12:17 p.m. Friday by the NFE terminal manager to Genera PR informed that the available natural gas on the Amur River would run out at 1:00 a.m. Saturday while the arrival of the next vessel remained undefined, according to El Vocero. The AEE told the court this was the first written partial response from NFE after Genera sent 18 information requests over 17 days. The utility described the situation as particularly concerning because NFE had not specified when another cargo would arrive or when its facilities would be ready to restore gas supply to San Juan units 5 and 6.
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What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Desde el 16 de septiembre hemos utilizado los mecanismos contractuales, regulatorios y judiciales disponibles para exigir que NFE cumpla con sus obligaciones.
Our translation: Since Sept. 16 we have used the contractual, regulatory and judicial mechanisms available to demand that NFE fulfill its obligations.
The source's own statement, as quoted by El Vocero. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Governor Cites Contract Clause
Governor Jenniffer González Colón stated that New Fortress is failing to supply the gas needed to operate generators in San Juan and Palo Seco, NotiCel reported. NotiCel reported She said she instructed officials to pursue viable alternatives to curb electricity rate increases for residential and commercial customers. The governor added that a new contract clause allows the government to bring in another supplier to use NFE facilities if the current provider does not deliver the required volume.
She stated that failed attempts to bring the barge Amur River to the San Juan dock led to the use of more expensive diesel, costs that will be reflected in residential and commercial bills, according to NotiCel. The Oversight Board approved the 10-year contract with NFE on the condition that the company allow alternate suppliers access to its dock whenever it cannot complete gas deliveries. The AEE maintains the only terminal in northern Puerto Rico capable of receiving LNG is the one operated by NFEnergía and that it currently holds no LNG reserves.
Where the sources differ
Both El Vocero and NotiCel agree the government filed an urgent federal-court motion seeking to activate a contract clause that would let other suppliers deliver natural gas through NFE's San Juan terminal. El Vocero provides the precise 1:00 a.m. Saturday exhaustion time from the NFE email, the 18 unanswered requests over 17 days, the specific 24-hour and 72-hour compliance deadlines requested, and the reference to section 22.12.1 of the contract plus Crowley LNG's stated readiness. NotiCel focuses on the governor's press-conference remarks naming Palo Seco in addition to San Juan, the link to preventing rate hikes, the Oversight Board's contract condition, and her statements about diesel use and resulting bill impacts. The sources do not conflict on core facts but emphasize different details.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state how much natural gas remains on the Amur River, the exact current consumption rate, whether any other vessel is already en route, the volume Crowley LNG could actually deliver in the short term, or when a federal judge might rule on the emergency motion. They also omit any estimate of how long diesel use would continue and its precise added cost per kilowatt-hour.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official AEE advierte que gas de NFE podría agotarse esta madrugada y pide intervención federal
- Reporting AEE advierte que gas de NFE podría agotarse esta madrugada y pide intervención federal
- Reporting Gobierno pide la intervención del Tribunal Federal para buscar otro proveedor de gas
How we checked this
El Vocero supplied the majority of operational and legal specifics including the email timing, request deadlines and contract-section citation while NotiCel conveyed the governor's public statements linking the dispute to electricity rates and the Oversight Board. The potential involvement of Crowley LNG and the exact 1:00 a.m. Saturday deadline rest solely on El Vocero.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.
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