WILLEMSTAD - Former employees of the Isla refinery have been given false hope for three years. The deal between Refineria di Korsou and Oryx Midstream does not align with the promises made to people in the past, according to the union Sentral di Sindikatonan di Kòrsou (SSK) after an informational session with representatives from Refineria di Kòrsou (RdK) and Oryx. 

SSK questions the employment expectations created by the RdK management. Due to environmental requirements and changes in the international market, it is no longer feasible to refine crude oil in Curaçao. Therefore, RdK has chosen to collaborate with Oryx Midstream, which plans to blend and store petroleum products. SSK states that hundreds of people signed up for training and jobs at the refinery, but are now left disappointed. 

According to the information provided during the meeting, there is still no definitive agreement between RdK and Oryx. The deal signed on July 1 is still dependent on the outcomes of negotiations with various stakeholders, including the government regarding tax arrangements and government companies such as Aqualectra, Curoil, and Kompania di Tou Kòrsou (KTK).