Gas
LNG tanker Amur River docks in San Juan after delays
The Amur River has entered San Juan Bay, ending a month-long delay that forced power plants to burn costly diesel.
Key points
- The LNG tanker Amur River docked in San Juan Bay on Tuesday after weather and regulatory delays.
- A payment dispute between regulators and New Fortress Energy had previously stalled deliveries.
- The delay forced the San Juan power complex to rely on expensive diesel generation.
What happened
The liquefied natural gas tanker Amur River entered San Juan Bay on Tuesday morning, according to the San Juan Daily Star. The vessel's arrival restores fuel supplies to the San Juan power complex following nearly a month of delays caused by weather conditions and regulatory disputes.
The U.S. Coast Guard cleared the entry after wind speeds dropped below safety limits. New Fortress Energy, which operates the LNG terminal, coordinated the arrival. The vessel had remained offshore since mid-September due to disagreements involving harbor pilots, vessel dimensions, and safety guarantees.
Why it matters
The delivery resolves a standoff sparked by a September 30 order from the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau. The bureau directed the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority to withhold $17.6 million in payments to New Fortress Energy over alleged supply shortcomings.
In response, the operator warned that future shipments faced uncertainty. The supply interruption forced units 5 and 6 at San Juan to switch to diesel. Genera PR estimated that this fuel switch added approximately $14 million in extra costs by late September.
What comes next
Lawmakers have called for legal action against New Fortress Energy over the delayed deliveries, citing risks to consumer electricity bills. The Amur River carries fuel for combined-cycle and temporary generation units, though depth restrictions at the Puerto Nuevo berth limit vessels to carrying no more than 60 percent of their capacity.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Gas is the flexible backbone of many grids and the designated transition fuel in many national plans, from LNG trade to domestic LPG and CNG. Supply security and pricing drive both power reliability and emissions.
21.9% of electricity in the world came from gas in 2024Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
