DEN HAAG — It is premature to conclude that Curaçao can benefit long-term from recent developments in energy logistics, including the arrival and storage of Venezuelan oil on the island, the Dutch state secretary for Kingdom Relations has stated.
In written responses to questions from Dutch MP for Forum voor Democratie, Mr. Duijvenvoorde, State Secretary Eddie van Marum — speaking on behalf of the Minister of Economic Affairs — emphasized that current activities are temporary and occur amid continued political and economic instability in Venezuela. Because of that uncertainty, it’s too early to articulate a definitive future role for Curaçao as a strategic node in regional energy supply chains.
While acknowledging that Curaçao’s geographic location and existing port and storage infrastructure could make the island an attractive location for energy logistics in the Caribbean, Van Marum underscored that economic policy — including strategic development of energy and industrial facilities — falls under the autonomous authority of Curaçao, not the Dutch government or the Kingdom as a whole.
According to the statement, the existing oil and port infrastructure on Curaçao is already being used for storage and transshipment, but there is no indication at this stage that the island will attract greater activity as a fossil fuel transit hub. Decisions about such structural economic developments are for Curaçao’s government and private sector to determine.
The state secretary also replied that it is too soon to identify concrete opportunities for Dutch companies to benefit from emerging energy flows, given that the current activities are temporary and linked to geopolitical uncertainty. Any future cooperation or commercial involvement would depend on long-term developments and autonomous decisions by Curaçao, the response notes.