Gov. Jenniffer González Colón said she will weigh viable alternatives to end the dispute with New Fortress Energy so the barge Amur River can finally dock at the San Juan pier and unload natural gas. A New Fortress Energy subsidiary claims the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA (AEE), or PREPA) is behind on payment guarantees for outstanding balances.
New Fortress puts the figure at roughly $92.2 million, of which $17.6 million is for the burning of substitute fuel. Speaking at a press conference in Cupey, González Colón called the claim "blackmail" because, she said, the company has been paid. She said using that argument amounts to activating clauses so New Fortress can use elements included in the previous negotiation.
The governor said the government has filed a petition in court asking permission to bring in another supplier given the gas shortfall. "We are not going to allow the only natural gas supplier to refuse to bring gas to Puerto Rico," she said, adding that the company "literally wants to blackmail the government" and that the government will look for another supplier.
She said officials are talking with Justice Department lawyers to work out alternatives, and have also held talks with the federal Department of Energy. She did not rule out other avenues, saying Puerto Rico "will not be held hostage by a contractor or government supplier."