On July 5, 2025, Aruba experienced a complete blackout lasting approximately six hours. Herrick Henriquez of the Aruba Trade and Industry Association (ATIA) took note of the explanation given by Mr. Koolman, director of WEB, but found it unclear and incomplete.
The blackout has cost Aruba’s businesses millions. Vital institutions such as HOH, AAA, and ImSan were affected, but the hardest hit were small businesses relying on their sales during busy weekend events to generate extra income.
With no electronic payments, no cash withdrawals, and many buildings lacking backup generators, numerous small businesses were forced to close their doors. Additionally, many electronic devices and machines in shops and homes were at risk of damage due to unstable power during the outage.
ATIA questions what WEB will do to ensure this doesn’t happen again, asking if the generators failed. In today’s modern island setting, such blackouts are unacceptable. It’s time for the Aruba government to reconsider restrictions on solar panels and legalize battery use, as neighboring islands have done, allowing merchants and residents to invest in reliable 24-hour electricity.
ATIA recognizes that going fully “off-grid” might not be feasible for everyone but believes that businesses and individuals should have the choice to stay connected to the normal power grid if they want.
While power was restored after 5 hours and 45 minutes, apologies won’t recover the millions lost. Who will be financially responsible?
