WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao should look beyond oil and place greater emphasis on ship repair, offshore services and renewable energy when deciding the long-term future of the former refinery properties, according to environmental organization Clean Air Everywhere (CAE).
While CAE has expressed doubts about the economics of asphalt production and large-scale oil storage, it sees considerably greater potential in developing Curaçao's maritime sector.
The organization identifies ship repair, maintenance, refitting, inspections, parts supply, training and potentially ship recycling as activities that could be expanded.
CAE believes the rapidly developing offshore oil and gas industry in Guyana and Suriname could also generate additional demand for maintenance and services for offshore support vessels.
Curaçao already has several advantages, according to the organization, including its harbor, existing maritime infrastructure, international air connections and the ability to accommodate specialized workers brought to the island temporarily for major projects.
CAE nevertheless believes these commercial activities should generally be carried out by specialized private companies rather than directly by 2BAYS.
Under that model, 2BAYS would concentrate on preparing and developing the industrial areas, providing suitable infrastructure and creating conditions that attract private investment.
CAE sees similar potential for large-scale solar power on portions of the former refinery property. Some areas have limited alternative uses because of historical industrial contamination. Where such sites can safely accommodate solar installations, the organization believes renewable energy could give otherwise difficult-to-develop land a productive new purpose.
However, CAE again questions whether 2BAYS itself should become the commercial operator. It suggests the government-owned company could instead provide land and infrastructure to specialized energy companies.
The debate comes as the Curaçao Parliament has called for an independent investigation into the management and Supervisory Board of 2BAYS. Parliament requested the investigation on August 26.
CAE supports the investigation but wants its scope expanded beyond the performance of the current leadership. The organization believes Curaçao should use the process to determine what it wants to achieve with the former refinery properties over the next 20 to 30 years.
That would require making strategic choices about the appropriate balance between oil storage, maritime services, offshore activities, renewable energy and other industrial development.
CAE ultimately sees 2BAYS evolving more toward the role of an area developer than an operator of numerous commercial businesses. Under that approach, the company would focus on infrastructure, environmental remediation and preparing land for investors, while specialized private companies assume the commercial risks of operating businesses on the sites.