ORANJESTAD (AAN): The Aruba Refinery Infrastructure Neglect Debate Raised by TOPA President as Axcel Figaroa, president of the labor union TOPA, expressed concerns about the condition of Aruba’s former refinery facilities and the potential economic opportunities the island may have missed.
During an interview, Figaroa suggested that Aruba may have made a strategic mistake in recent years by allowing parts of the refinery infrastructure to deteriorate instead of maintaining them for possible future use.
According to Figaroa, this situation may limit Aruba’s ability to respond quickly to regional opportunities, including the possibility of processing or storing crude oil from Venezuela.
The Aruba Refinery Infrastructure Neglect Debate Raised by TOPA President also compares Aruba’s position with neighboring Curaçao, which has taken steps to prepare its facilities to receive crude oil shipments more quickly when opportunities arise.
Figaroa explained that experts have indicated the refinery facilities in Aruba have deteriorated to a point where immediate operations would not be possible.
“Because the refinery installations have been left without proper maintenance for so long, experts say that even restarting operations for storage purposes would require significant time and preparation,” Figaroa noted.
Historically, Aruba’s refinery sector played a central role in the island’s economy. The San Nicolas refinery, once one of the most strategic oil processing sites in the Caribbean, helped drive economic development for decades.
However, Aruba has recently shifted away from oil refining as part of a broader strategy focused on sustainability and economic diversification. The government has announced plans to dismantle and redevelop the refinery site in San Nicolas for new industries and clean energy projects.
Despite these policy decisions, Figaroa believes the island should still consider the economic potential of existing industrial infrastructure.
The Aruba Refinery Infrastructure Neglect Debate Raised by TOPA President highlights concerns that Aruba has relied too heavily on a single economic pillar—tourism—while other opportunities may have been overlooked.
Figaroa stated that Aruba should explore additional economic sectors and take advantage of existing infrastructure where possible.
He noted that the island still has several storage tanks and industrial installations that could potentially be used for economic activity if properly maintained and evaluated.
According to Figaroa, Aruba should carefully consider regional developments in the oil industry and avoid missing future opportunities.
“If we take too long to make decisions, competition from other islands could become too strong, and the opportunity may no longer be worthwhile,” he said.
The union leader emphasized that Aruba must remain open to evaluating different economic possibilities while balancing environmental and sustainability considerations.
The Aruba Refinery Infrastructure Neglect Debate Raised by TOPA President reflects ongoing discussions in the country about how Aruba can diversify its economy and make strategic use of existing resources while preparing for future development.
