a delegation from the Dutch Senate and House of Representatives, currently in Aruba for the Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultation (IPKO), toured the refinery site at the invitation of the Minister of Justice and Energy, Mr. drs. Arthur Dowers. They were accompanied by RDA Director Robert Henriquez and RDA Chief Financial Officer Frederick Nuboer.
The recent announcement by Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and Prime Minister Mike Eman regarding the future of the oil industry in Aruba drew the attention of the Dutch delegation. During the visit, they were able to personally observe the current condition of the facility: an installation with heavily outdated steel infrastructure, collapsed pipelines, structures that have deteriorated due to lack of maintenance, and large areas contaminated with industrial waste such as pitch and sulfur.
The condition of the refinery structures has deteriorated to such an extent that inspection work is extremely dangerous and requires the dismantling of several towers and vessels beforehand—costs that RDA cannot financially bear. Modernizing the refinery would require extremely high investments that are neither economically nor environmentally justifiable.
Additionally, the presence of residual waste—the heaviest fraction remaining after oil refining—and other industrial contamination makes the area unsuitable for recreational, hotel, or residential use. The current priority is to remediate and subsequently decontaminate the main refinery site. This is a technically complex process that may take more than five years before any other development can begin.
Minister Dowers emphasized that decisions regarding the future of the refinery must be based on economic realism, environmental responsibility, and sustainable objectives for Aruba. The oil era in Aruba is over, and now new sustainable economic opportunities must be created for future generations.
The government is committed to a responsible transition, focused on sustainability, cleaner energy, and the strategic reuse of the industrial site, without compromising environmental safety or public health.
Transparency, accountability, and sustainability will remain the foundation of all decisions regarding the future of the refinery site.