WILLEMSTAD - The Curaçao government and the Curaçao Refinery (RdK) may already be looking for a new operator for the refinery. According to the Minister of Economic Development Ruthmilda Larmonie-Cecilia, the Pisas cabinet and the RdK want to deploy a so-called headhunter.
What the precise role that headhunter will play and what tasks he or she will be given will be defined in the coming days. The government wants a suitable operator - with sufficient crude oil and a capital - for the Isla refinery.
This is necessary, the minister explains, because CORC bv (Curaçao Oil Refinery Complex) has apparently been unable to deliver. CORC had previously been selected as 'preferred partner' after an intensive selection procedure. However, CORC's Brazilian partner pulled out, after which the local company started looking for alternatives. According to sources close to the refinery, CORC has not yet succeeded in this.
The Council of Ministers has not yet decided because last Friday the issue of the COHO Kingdom Act proposal and the decision-making process in the kingdom government took longer than expected. But, according to the Minister Larmonie-Cecilia, the intention is to formally agree to headhunting.
RdK indicated that they first want to propose a 'headhunting protocol' for this. Members are then appointed to a steering group to supervise the process. According to the source, this is expected to be completed next week.