Aguirre Offshore GasPort LLC, a unit of Excelerate Energy LP, has filed an application at FERC to build a floating offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal and associated facilities to provide gas to the largest power generation facility in Puerto Rico.

Aguirre Office proposes to build and operate the LNG facility, including a 4.1-mile subsea interconnecting natural gas pipeline, to be located in Salinas, along the southern shore of Puerto Rico. It is developing the project in cooperation with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) to supply natural gas to PREPA’s Aguirre Power Complex to generate power for the island’s commercial, industrial and residential customers. The 1,492 MW Aguirre Power Plant, which is the largest generating facility on the island, currently uses fuel oil and diesel fuel to produce power.

In addition to the proposed LNG terminal, the project would include a nonjurisdictional Energy Bridge Vessel (EBRV) functioning as the floating storage and regasification unit for the project. Excelerate Energy currently has a fleet of eight EBRVs, which are capable of ocean travel and have onboard equipment for the vaporization of LNG and delivery of high-pressure natural gas.

The proposed facilities would provide up to 3.2 Bcf of LNG storage capacity and a sustained deliverability of 500 MMcf/d, with a peak deliverability of 600 MMcf/d of natural gas directly to the Aguirre Power Plant.

Assuming approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Aguirre said it plans to begin construction of the proposed LNG terminal facilities in April 2014, with an anticipated in-service date of March 2015. It has asked FERC to act on its application by March 1, 2014. Aquirre Offshore said it expects the Commission to issues a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) in the third quarter and a final EIS in early 2014.

PREPA will contract for 100% of the available capacity (storage and delivery throughput) to be created by the project, the company said.

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