Energy attorney and adviser Ramón Luis Nieves said Puerto Rico’s electrical system has had to turn to costlier alternatives, including diesel-fueled units, due to lack of access to natural gas transported by a barge that remains unable to dock in San Juan Bay. Nieves did not specify how much more expensive diesel is compared to natural gas, but said the cost difference ultimately falls on electric system customers.
He explained that the impact begins once the system determines it will not have access to natural gas and must instead buy diesel to keep plants running. The vessel, identified as the Amur River, remains unable to dock in San Juan Bay amid an ongoing federal court dispute between New Fortress Energy and the bay’s harbor pilots over the ship’s docking maneuver.