WILLEMSTAD – MAN-PIN parliamentarian Giselle Mc William is again demanding clarity from the Curaçao government about possible oil and gas exploration in the island’s territorial waters, warning that Curaçao may be missing a major economic opportunity while Aruba moves ahead with offshore energy studies.
Her renewed call follows reports that U.S.-based Armstrong Oil & Gas is expected to present preliminary research findings later this year for offshore exploration projects near Aruba. Aruba signed a production-sharing agreement with the company in 2024 and has been actively updating its Parliament on developments since then.
According to Mc William, it remains unclear why Curaçao has not formally joined or aligned itself with a similar exploration process, despite what she says were earlier contacts between Armstrong and Curaçaoan authorities.
She stated that the American company had previously approached Curaçao and held talks with the government, as well as with Refineria di Kòrsou and 2Bays Curaçao. However, according to her, there has been no visible progress since those conversations and Parliament has not been informed about any follow-up steps.
Mc William questioned the transparency of the current cabinet, pointing out that Aruba has kept its Parliament informed on the matter since 2023, while Curaçao’s legislature remains in the dark.
“Where is the transparency and where is the priority of this government?” she asked, arguing that if neighboring Aruba moves toward possible drilling and Curaçao remains passive, the island could lose out on strategic economic benefits.
Armstrong Oil & Gas has attracted attention in the region because of its track record in major oil discoveries in Alaska, including the multi-billion-barrel Pikka field. The company has described Aruba’s offshore prospects as potentially significant and is currently reprocessing seismic data to determine whether exploratory drilling could begin as early as 2026 or 2027.
Mc William also highlighted Curaçao’s strategic location in the southern Caribbean, particularly its proximity to Venezuela, where Armstrong is also active in energy-related projects.
According to her, cooperation between Aruba, Curaçao and Venezuela in offshore exploration could create economic opportunities for all three, especially if commercial reserves are found.
She described the oil and gas sector as a potential “gamechanger” for Curaçao’s economy, particularly at a time when the island is seeking diversification beyond tourism and refining.
The issue is expected to increase political pressure on the government to clarify whether Curaçao still intends to pursue offshore oil and gas exploration, or whether the island risks falling behind regional developments in the energy sector.