WILLEMSTAD – The refinery, 2BAYS, and the oil terminal on Curaçao have been granted a temporary toleration permit by the Ministry of Health, Environment, and Nature. This measure was implemented after the previous nuisance permit, which had been in effect since 1997, expired on December 31, 2024.
The companies submitted applications for new permits on time, but those applications have not yet been fully assessed.
The ministry explained that the complexity of the applications and the statutory deadlines make it impossible to approve the permits swiftly. As a result, the decision was made to extend the processing time by three months for the terminal and six months for the refinery. This will allow operations to continue temporarily without an official permit.
In the meantime, the companies have made significant agreements with international partners regarding production and management. This includes asphalt production and export from 2BAYS, as well as operations at the terminal at Bullenbaai.
The ministry stated that this is an exceptional situation, where the toleration permit is necessary to ensure business continuity. However, the government emphasized that this is not a regular practice, and careful evaluation of the new permits remains a priority.