The executive director of the Ports Authority, the San Juan Bay Pilots Association and the management of New Fortress Energy (NFE) have been summoned to appear on Tuesday, October 6, before the House of Representatives’ Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to explain, under oath, the delay in the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The hearing is set for 9 a.m. in Hearing Room 6.
Committee chair José 'Cheito' Hernández, representative for San Juan’s District 3, announced it. Hernández said units 5 and 6 of the San Juan Power Plant have been burning diesel (Bunker C) instead of LNG for nearly two weeks because the ship 'Amur River' has not been able to enter San Juan Bay, which raises generation costs and the electric bill.
He called the situation unacceptable and said someone must be responsible. He explained that the pilots have safety protocols to authorize entry of vessels carrying natural gas, and that the U.S. Coast Guard has recently raised concerns about the Amur River and the safety of the bay; the committee will weigh those concerns alongside information from NFE and the Ports Authority on their roles.
Hernández also wants to know the terms of the contract between NFE and the Ports Authority for use of piers A, B and C in San Juan Bay, which he said has drawn much speculation. He has spoken with José Aponte, chair of the Federal and Veterans Affairs Committee, about starting a detailed study of that contract. The Amur River has been unable to dock for 14 days.