Puerto Rico Gas Tanker Misses Sunday Entry Over Regulator Payment Order
ENERGY · PUERTO RICO
Key Facts
- —The country Puerto Rico, a US territory that uses the US dollar, ships in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) burned at its San Juan and Palo Seco power plants.
- —What happened The LNG tanker Amur River missed its planned 06:00 entry to San Juan Bay on Sunday 4 October 2026. It first reached the bay on 17 September (El Nuevo Día).
- —Who is involved Supplier New Fortress Energy and its subsidiary Genera PR, which runs the plants; the Energy Bureau regulator; the state utility AEE; and the 3PPO procurement office.
- —What it means for you San Juan units 5 and 6 have burned diesel instead of gas since mid-September. Genera put the extra fuel cost at about US$14 million on 28 September.
- —Still open Whether the regulator revises its 30 September order deferring US$17.6 million (El Nuevo Día), and when the tanker docks. Lawmakers hold a hearing on 6 October.
A Puerto Rico gas tanker, the Amur River, did not enter San Juan Bay on Sunday 4 October 2026 as planned. Its supplier, New Fortress Energy, blamed a 30 September order from the island’s energy regulator for creating uncertainty over payments.
The ship carries LNG for power plants that have been short of gas since mid-September. Until it docks, the San Juan plant burns costlier diesel. Background: Puerto Rico Natural Gas Dispute Could Add US$48 a Month to Power Bills (29 September).
What the Regulator Ordered
On 30 September the Energy Bureau, the island’s electricity regulator, deferred about US$17.6 million in gas-related payments, El Nuevo Día reported. The deferral fed into the fuel charge behind the higher electricity rate in force since 1 October.
In a letter on Friday 2 October, New Fortress said the order breached its contracts with the AEE (Electric Power Authority), the state utility that owns the plants. It said it could not commit any LNG to Puerto Rico going forward. The Energy Bureau posted the letter on its website on Sunday afternoon.
The company set two conditions for supplying again. The regulator must revoke or modify its order, and the AEE must confirm it will pay outstanding debts under the contracts.
How the State Answered
The Independent Procurement Office (3PPO), which handles the island’s energy contracts, replied the same Friday. It warned that stopping supply could amount to wilful misconduct and deliberate abandonment of the contract.
The office gave New Fortress 24 hours to confirm in writing that supply would continue. El Nuevo Día could not establish whether the company did so.
Late on Friday the AEE filed an urgent motion asking the regulator to address the company’s claims. It said it would comply with the deferral unless the regulator instructed otherwise.
The utility warned that the order, as New Fortress reads it, could deepen reliance on diesel. The next move sits with the Energy Bureau.
Courts, Pilots and the Coast Guard
Payment is the newest hurdle for the Puerto Rico gas tanker. It first reached San Juan on 17 September but could not berth amid a dispute with harbour pilots over vessel size, El Nuevo Día reported.
On Thursday 1 October federal judge Silvia Carreño-Coll authorised the ship to enter and berth, Telemundo Puerto Rico reported. Her conditions include two standby tugs paid by New Fortress and manoeuvres only in winds of 10 knots or less.
On Saturday the US Coast Guard raised objections over the vessel’s dimensions. It later said these concerned the company’s navigation study rather than the planned delivery, El Nuevo Día reported.
What It Means for Power Bills
San Juan units 5 and 6 have run on diesel and heavy fuel oil for nearly two weeks, said legislator José Hernández. Hernández, who chairs the House transport committee, said this raises generation costs and, in turn, household bills.
Genera PR told a 28 September regulatory hearing that the extra fuel could cost about US$14 million. Grid operator LUMA put possible charges for unused contract gas at about US$67 million, Metro Puerto Rico reported.
Neither estimate has been approved. Genera vice-president Iván Báez said on Sunday it would keep generating with the fuel it has.
For now the shortage shows up as cost rather than lost supply. All sides say they want the Puerto Rico gas tanker unloaded.
What Is Not Yet Known
It is not known whether New Fortress met the 3PPO deadline, or when the regulator will rule. No new entry date had been announced by Sunday evening.
On Tuesday 6 October at 09:00, the House transport committee will question the Ports Authority, the pilots and New Fortress under oath.
Who finally pays for the diesel, and for contract gas that never arrived, remains open. The US$17.6 million figure rests on El Nuevo Día’s reading of the order and is not independently confirmed.
Sources: Metro Puerto Rico, 4 Oct 2026; Metro Puerto Rico, House hearing, 4 Oct 2026; Metro Puerto Rico, 29 Sep 2026; El Nuevo Día, 4 Oct 2026; El Nuevo Día, Coast Guard, 3 Oct 2026; Telemundo Puerto Rico, 4 Oct 2026.
This article was drafted with automated assistance and reviewed before publication. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief