WILLEMSTAD – State-owned fuel company Curoil and terminal operator 2Bays have differing views on the costs associated with Plan B3, a contingency plan introduced to safeguard Curaçao’s fuel supply after the shutdown of the Isla refinery at the end of 2019. The disagreement centers not on whether payments should be made, but on the level of costs being charged under the arrangement.
According to Curoil, 2Bays is invoicing a higher amount than what was agreed upon when Plan B3 was established. The additional claim has not been mutually accepted, and no final agreement has yet been reached. Curoil stresses that it does not dispute the principle of the B3 storage surcharge itself, but rather the calculation and scope of the costs now being presented.
The Ministry of Finance, however, paints a more critical picture in its Financial Management Report. In that document, the ministry states that Curoil has outstanding contractual debts toward Curaçao Refinery Utilities, or Curaçao Refinery Utilities, a subsidiary of 2Bays. Media reports have suggested that the claim runs into many millions of guilders. The report notes that legal action has not been ruled out if the dispute remains unresolved.
Plan B3 was introduced as an emergency framework to ensure continuity in fuel imports, storage, and distribution following the closure of the Isla refinery, which had historically played a central role in Curaçao’s energy infrastructure. As part of that plan, a B3 surcharge was added to regulated fuel prices. The proceeds from this surcharge are collected by Curoil and transferred on a monthly basis to 2Bays, which provides storage and related services through CRU.
Curoil has indicated that a proposal for an amicable settlement has already been submitted in an effort to resolve the dispute without litigation. Discussions are ongoing, while both parties await further clarity on the long-term structure of Plan B3 and the future role of 2Bays and CRU within Curaçao’s fuel supply chain.
The government expects a more definitive position on the implementation of Plan B3 and the continued involvement of 2Bays and CRU no later than March. Until then, the disagreement over cost levels remains a sensitive issue, given its potential impact on public finances and fuel prices on the island.