WILLEMSTAD - Also with a new operator, the Isla refinery remains with a major problem, namely: how do I get crude oil? Because Venezuela won’t be able to supply the refinery here on the island.

This is according to Heberto Ferrer, advisor and technical advisor to the general union of employees of Venezuela (C.G.T.) during a visit to Curaçao. Ferrer based this on the particularly low production of the Venezuelan state oil company PdVSA and the agreements the Venezuelan government has made with Cuba on the supply of crude oil. The oil that is still being produced is going to Cuba.

The most important question for Curaçao is how to guarantee the supply of crude oil to the Isla refinery if it is 100% dependent on Venezuelan crude oil.

ConocoPhillips

According to Ferrer, the fact that the US oil giant ConocoPhillips has filed a lawsuit against PdVSA through the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) states that Venezuela cannot make any international transaction with regard to crude oil. "No multinational with ships will venture to transport Venezuelan crude oil." ConocoPhillips was awarded a 2 million dollar claim after arbitration.

Given the small distance between Curaçao and Venezuela and associated lower transport costs, the oil from Venezuela is more favorable, even though there will be another operator of the Isla refinery. The Isla is also specially equipped to process the heavy Venezuelan crude oil.

As a trade unionist, Ferrer not only expressed his concern about the future of the Isla refinery, but also about employees who are going through a difficult time. "Unification in the trade union movement is the only way to deal with this situation." Especially if one considers the negotiations that are now under way to find a new operator for the refinery.