WILLEMSTAD - The Clean Environment Foundation of Curaçao (SMOC) has requested clarification from the Curaçao Refinery (RdK) and the Ministry of Public Health regarding the asphalt deal concluded between the owner of the refinery and Global Oil.
The environmental organization wants to know which crude oil will be processed to produce asphalt and with which facilities. According to SMOC, it appears that the heaviest crude oil will be processed, and Thermo Cracker 1 and a portion of Thermo Cracker 2 will be used to crack it and produce asphalt.
This raises the question of which environmental standards regime will be followed. "Given the neglected state of the refinery, even the current outdated standards are not achievable, let alone the modern standards ordered by the court," said Peter van Leeuwen of SMOC.
Permit
Therefore, SMOC emphasizes that a stringent permit is a necessity. They are aware that the permit under which the Isla refinery operated is no longer in effect.
Parties will need to apply for a new environmental permit. As far as is known, this has not yet occurred. SMOC now wants to know when the newly granted permit, including the applicable new legal environmental standards, will be made available for public review.