WILLEMSTAD - During the ongoing discussions on Curaçao’s 2025 budget, Member of Parliament for the opposition party MAN Giselle Mc William raised concerns over the lack of detailed information regarding the Isla refinery, its operations, and the related financial arrangements in the proposed budget.
Mc William pointed out that there is minimal mention of the Isla refinery, its operations under Oryx and Global, or the development plans by 2Bays (formerly Refineria di Kòrsou, RdK). The only references to the Isla are vague, including a mention of a 30-year agreement with Oryx, but with a note that "refining activities are not yet underway due to outdated environmental legislation." Mc William questioned the status of this legislation, which has already been discussed in parliament, and raised concerns about the lack of clarity in the budget regarding the future of the refinery.
“I don’t see anything about the possible reopening of the refinery. There’s mention of a contract with Oryx, but it says refining activities are not yet possible due to outdated environmental laws. What is the status of these laws? They’ve already been discussed in the Staten, so why is there no clear update?” Mc William asked during the budget session that started this week.
Steven Croes MP for the PAR party also expressed concerns about the lack of detailed information, particularly regarding Oryx’s financial situation. “What is the status of the refinery and Oryx? I’ve heard from reliable sources that Oryx doesn’t have enough money for the necessary investments. Is this true?” Croes inquired.
Mc William also brought up the situation with Global, pointing out that some documents still need to be signed. “The budget mentions nothing about Oryx and Global, which deal with asphalt and blending. That should bring in revenue, right?” she asked.
The MAN MP further questioned the financial health of 2Bays, citing reports that the company is in a delicate financial situation. “This is alarming. We want to know the exact status. Is the reporting true? And can we finally see the financial statements for the Curacao Refinery (RdK) for 2021, 2022, and 2023? We’ve been requesting these for years,” Mc William said, also asking about 2Bays’ development plans on the Isla site that are supposed to generate revenue.
Additionally, Mc William inquired about the status of employees paid by Curaçao Refinery Utilities (CRU). “I’ve heard that CRU is continuing to pay the staff and that they remain employed by CRU, with Oryx reimbursing CRU for the costs. I want to see the government agreement,” she said, with Croes supporting her call to make the agreement available for review.
Mc William further highlighted that the workers are disappointed with their working conditions and the promises made regarding savings funds and pension schemes. She also mentioned the promises made to retired refinery workers, who were told that funds would come from the “swap deal” (oil for money) with a Venezuelan minister. “We haven’t heard anything more about it. The Venezuelan minister has been arrested. It’s a big ‘black box’ for us. Payments were supposed to start in June, with an advance from Refineria di Kòrsou. Does RdK have the money for this, or is it coming from the Curaçao budget via RdK? The debt from Venezuela is 2.1 million guilders. How much is being advanced?” she asked.
As the budget discussions continue this week, Mc William and Croes are pressing for more transparency and answers regarding the future of the Isla refinery and the financial stability of the companies involved.