Curacao Sets Talks With U.S.-Brazilian Consortium to Run Island’s Oil Refinery

WILLEMSTAD — Curacao will begin negotiations with a seven-company consortium to take over management of the Caribbean island’s oil refinery and storage terminal, state-owned Refineria di Kòrsou (RdK) said on Sunday.

Curacao’s 330,000-barrel per day Isla refinery was idled in 2018 amid a payment dispute between then-operator Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and U.S. oil company ConocoPhillips.

PDVSA’s lease expired at the end of 2019 and attempts by the island’s government have continued after several companies dropped out.

RdK said Caribbean Petroleum Refinery, which it identified as a group of six U.S. and one Brazilian company, was selected from among three finalists to manage and run the facilities.

“No later than September 1st, 2022 an agreement should be reached and immediately after begin with the start-up of operations,” RdK said in Sunday’s statement.

Caribbean Petroleum Refinery would employ more than 800 people and converted the facility to run on natural gas, RdK said. The oil-storage terminal at Bullenbaai “will be put into operation immediately,” it added.