In a historic announcement made with the San Nicolas refinery in the background, Aruban Prime Minister Mike Eman and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof confirmed that the refinery will be permanently dismantled, marking the official end of Aruba’s oil refining era.
The Government of Aruba will fully decommission the former Lago Oil & Transport Co. complex and redevelop the site for sustainable and inclusive projects.
“For nearly a century, the refinery was the beating heart of Aruba’s industrial age,” Prime Minister Eman said. “Generations of Arubans built their lives around it, but the future demands courage. Today, we close that chapter with gratitude and open a new one built on innovation, sustainability, and the common good.”
The refinery played a key role in global history, serving as a major fuel supplier for the Allies during World War II, contributing to the liberation of Europe and the Netherlands. This historical significance adds depth to the decision to transform the area into a model for sustainability.
Aruba has formally requested technical assistance from the Netherlands for the safe dismantling and decontamination of the refinery site, as well as support in organizing international tenders for redevelopment.
Prime Minister Schoof, who arrived from the COP30 Climate Conference in Brazil, praised Aruba’s move as “a courageous and visionary decision that turns the past into the foundation for the future.”
The Netherlands is reviewing Aruba’s request and plans to contribute €50 million to a special energy transition fund aimed at strengthening Aruba’s electricity grid and sustainable infrastructure.
The transformation plan for the Refineria di Aruba (RdA) envisions turning San Nicolas into a hub for clean energy, maritime innovation, circular industries, housing, culture, and green infrastructure, aligned with Aruba’s sustainable development goals.
To ensure transparency and international safety standards, Aruba’s government—with Dutch support—will establish a solid governance structure to oversee the dismantling and redevelopment process.
Ratified by the Aruban Parliament through the historic De Meza Motion, this decision represents not just an economic shift but a moral and ecological turning point.
“With respect for the past but with our eyes on the future, we are closing this chapter and opening a new one,” Eman said. “The refinery lands will become a new source of prosperity.”
With this step, Aruba demonstrates to the world that true progress lies not in preserving the past, but in redesigning the future — from extraction to regeneration, from dependence to resilience.
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