After almost a century of close relationship with the oil industry, Aruba has decided to close its refinery in San Nicolas, marking the beginning of a new phase focused on sustainability, clean energy and responsible economic development.
A strategic turnaround led by a vision of the future
The Aruban government made this decision in the awareness that the oil era has run its course and that global trends are moving towards sustainability and clean energy. The country, instead of continuing to search for a new oil operator, decided to close the oil chapter for good.
The San Nicolás industrial zone will be transformed into a space dedicated to clean activities, including green industrial zones, technological innovation centers and projects focused on renewable energy and circular economy.
Financial and technical support from the Netherlands
To support this energy transition, the Government of the Netherlands will provide 110 million guilders and specialized technical support to ensure that the environmental remediation process is carried out efficiently and safely.
For decades, many fathers and mothers built their lives and supported their families by working in this sector. That makes this decision even more emotional for the Aruban community, but sustainability requires courage.
Dick Schoof, outgoing Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
Why is this news so important?
This announcement shows how an economy that relied entirely on a fossil resource can make a conscious decision to reinvent itself towards sustainability. Today, many places in the world are facing the transition away from polluting industries, and the case of Aruba can serve as a model of planning and political courage.
Source: Government of Aruba
