Excelerate Energy’s FSRU facility receives draft EIS

Excelerate Energy, in cooperation with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), has received the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for its proposed Aguirre Offshore Gasport Project (AOGP).

The AOGP is a proposed floating LNG marine terminal, located offshore Puerto Rico.

Project benefits

The FERC has concluded that the construction and operation of the FSRU (floating storage and regasification unit) project would result in limited adverse environmental impacts that would mainly occur only during construction. The EIS also confirms the inherent benefits of the project, including:

• The diversification of Puerto Rico’s energy sources.
• Allowing for PREPA to be MATS compliant.
• Reducing barge traffic in Jobos Bay.
• Contributing to prices stabilization for power in the region.

Comments

Commenting on the receipt of the EIS, Excelerate Energy Chief Development Officer, Daniel Bustos, said: “We are pleased with FERC’s conclusion in confirming that the project will have minimal impacts to the environment. In order to ensure we safeguard the environment, we will implement any necessary mitigation measures outlined in the final EIS.

“As with our other facilities worldwide, we are committed to being a safe and responsible operator within the communities we serve.”

“The publication of the draft represents a step forward towards our objective of reducing our dependence on oil and increase the use of natural gas to generate electricity and achieve to lower the energy cost in the island,” added PREPA’s Executive Director, Juan F. Alicea Flores.

Review process

AOGP has undergone an extensive analysis during the review process, with Excelerate responding to data requests from the FERC, cooperating agencies, and the general public. In addition, both Excelerate and PREPA have held numerous meetings with both the private and public sectors to ensure complete transparency throughout the entire permitting process.

The FERC has opened the project for public comment until 29 September 2014. The Commission expects to issue the final EIS by 19 December 2014.

Pending FERC approval, the facility is expected to begin construction in April 2015.

Image courtesy of Aguirre Offshore Gasport.

Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/floating-lng/08082014/draft-eis-for-excelerate-energy-fsru-1171/