Klesch Group Suspends Refinery Startup in Netherlands Antilles--Again, an Industrial Info Market Brief

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Klesch Group again has delayed its planned takeover of operations at Curacao's 225,800-barrel-per-day Willemstad Isla Refinery, the only petroleum refinery in the Netherlands Antilles.

The company had planned to begin operations at the refinery in April, only to postpone them until June or July due to COVID-19-restrictions. Klesch has again pushed back the startup date, saying it still is unable to move personnel from Europe to the island.

All processing units, still operated by PDVSA, remain offline due to unplanned events, a lack of crude and financial issues. It will not resume operations until September at the earliest; however, Klesch is uncertain if it will resume operations at the refinery in 2020.

Click here for a list of projects at the refinery, and see map below.