Aruba and the Netherlands to dismantle and repurpose former Lago refinery

Decision and scope

On November 8, 2025 Prime Minister Mike Eman of Aruba and Prime Minister Dick Schoof of the Netherlands announced the end of the island's oil refining era and a plan to completely dismantle and repurpose the former Lago Refinery in San Nicolas, also referred to as Refineria di Aruba (RDA).

Support and funding

The Aruban government has formally requested technical support from the Dutch government for safe dismantling, site remediation and preparation of international tenders for redevelopment; the Netherlands is processing the request and will contribute €50 million from a special energy transition fund to modernize the electricity grid and sustainable energy infrastructure.

Redevelopment vision

The RDA site's planned uses include clean energy, maritime innovation, circular industries, housing, cultural facilities and green infrastructure, with the objective of transforming San Nicolas into a sustainable hub aligned with the stated vision of common good and sustainable prosperity.

Governance and standards

Aruba, supported by the Netherlands, intends to establish a governance structure for coordination and transparency to manage the multi-year decommissioning and redevelopment process and to meet international standards of safety, environmental protection and institutional quality.

Historical context

The refinery played a notable historical role by supplying fuel to Allied Forces during World War II, a point cited as adding significance to the site's transformation; Prime Minister Schoof, who arrived from COP30, praised the move as transforming the past into a future source of recovery.