Netherlands: Curaçao itself responsible for Venezuelan oil storage

THE HAGUE/WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao bears sole responsibility for the storage and transit of Venezuelan oil on the island. This is the position of Minister Stientje van Veldhoven-van der Meer in her responses to parliamentary questions. The Netherlands plays no decision-making role in the matter.

The minister confirms that a tanker carrying Venezuelan oil has docked at Curaçao for temporary storage. She states that details regarding quantities and commercial agreements fall under the responsibility of Curaçao and the commercial parties involved.

The cabinet also emphasises that decisions regarding the arrival and storage of oil are an autonomous prerogative of Curaçao. The Netherlands or the Kingdom are not consulted in advance and do not direct these matters.

‘Windfall’

The remarks made by Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas, who previously described the developments as a ‘windfall opportunity’, are regarded by the cabinet as a reflection of the Curaçaoan government’s own assessment.

According to the minister, the current activities are temporary in nature and there are no indications that Curaçao is being structurally developed into a transit hub for fossil fuels. Structural economic choices rest with Curaçao itself.

The cabinet therefore sees no grounds to attach political consequences to the oil trade via Curaçao.