Curaçao is seeking to expand its role in the regional energy sector by positioning itself as a logistics and maritime services hub for the growing offshore oil industries in Guyana and Suriname, according to the Curaçao government.
The proposal was presented on July 20 by Curaçao’s Minister of Finance and of Traffic, Transport and Urban Planning, Charles Cooper, during a tour of the island’s harbor with Dutch State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Eric van der Burg, the Curaçao Chronicle reported.
At the center of the plan is Bullenbaai, where the government said existing infrastructure could be used to store and transship crude oil and petroleum products from Guyana and Suriname before shipment to international markets.
According to the Curaçao Chronicle, Cooper argued that Guyana and Suriname would require additional storage, transshipment and maritime support services as their offshore industries expand. He said Curaçao’s existing port facilities, strategic location and energy infrastructure position the island to provide those services.
Beyond storage, the government is also promoting Curaçao’s maritime sector. Cooper highlighted the island’s dry dock, tugboat operators and ship repair companies as assets that could support offshore vessels operating in the Guyana-Suriname Basin.
No contracts or investment agreements with operators in Guyana or Suriname were announced during the visit. The report also noted that it remains unclear whether companies operating offshore either country have committed to using Curaçao’s storage facilities, tugboat services or ship repair capabilities.
Guyana currently exports crude directly from four floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels operating in the Stabroek Block: Liza Destiny, Liza Unity, Prosperity, and ONE GUYANA.
OilNOW’s own tracking confirms that the bulk of Guyana’s shipments go to markets across Europe, North America and Asia, with Europe remaining the largest destination. Major buyers also include Panama, the Netherlands, Italy and the United States, while cargoes have also been delivered to countries including the United Kingdom, Spain, China, Germany and Brazil.
Guyana’s crude on the move: Who gets it and why it matters | OilNOW
ExxonMobil operates Guyana’s Stabroek Block with a 45% stake, with co-venturers Hess 30%, and CNOOC 25%. ExxonMobil has discovered an estimated 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels in the Stabroek Block.
Suriname is also advancing its offshore sector, with the 220,000 barrels-per-day GranMorgu project targeting first oil in 2028, while operators including Chevron, Shell, PETRONAS and QatarEnergy continue exploring additional offshore acreage that could support future developments.
