Minister in charge of Energy, Arthur Dowers, qualified the finalization of the RECIP-3 plant expansion at WEB Aruba N.V. as an important step to strengthen the security and reliability of Aruba’s energy supply.
On Wednesday morning, Minister Dowers attended the official handover ceremony of the project, which represented an investment of AWG 115 million. Along with the board of WEB Aruba and representatives of Wärtsilä Finland Oy, Minister Dowers was one of those who pressed the start button that officially put the two new RECIP engines into operation.
With the entry into operation of these two engines, energy production capacity via RECIP increases from 194 MW to 230 MW, providing Aruba with more firm capacity to respond to the growing demand for energy.
During his speech, Minister Dowers expressed, on behalf of the Government of Aruba, his gratitude to Wärtsilä for the cooperation maintained over the years with WEB Aruba. He also recognized the management, employees, engineers, and all professionals who contributed to the realization of a technically and logistically complex project.
According to Minister Dowers, when the community looks at the final installation, the work behind it is not always visible. The transportation of large equipment to Aruba, installation, technical integration, and compliance with various deadlines required a considerable effort from all involved. The minister highlighted that it is particularly positive that, despite the complexity, the project was completed one week ahead of the planned date.
More capacity for a growing Aruba Minister Dowers placed the expansion in the context of the growth Aruba is experiencing and the additional pressure this places on the energy supply. Increased economic activity, tourism, and consumption, combined with periods of intense heat, mean that energy demand continues to be a challenge. Therefore, according to Dowers, Aruba must have sufficient capacity and, more importantly, plan in time to prevent growth from exceeding available capacity. “We have taken an important step to guarantee energy security in our country,” Minister Dowers emphasized.
The minister expressed his appreciation for the level of knowledge and professionalism within WEB, noting that a reliable supply is not something a country can take for granted. The RECIP-3 expansion provides not only additional capacity but also a stronger foundation for the next phase of Aruba’s energy policy, enabling a greater role for renewable energy and storage in the energy mix.
