The Isla Refinery: Work and an Important Part of History

In 1915, Shell decided to build an oil refinery on Curaçao, near Schottegat. The refinery began operating in 1918.

This was an important moment in the island's history. The crude oil came mainly from Venezuela. At the refinery, the oil was processed into products such as gasoline, diesel and kerosene.

The refinery created many jobs. People from Curaçao and workers from other countries came to work there. New residential areas, including Emmastad and Julianadorp, were developed to house employees. The oil industry changed Curaçao's economy and people's daily lives.

On May 30, 1969, a labour dispute involving wages and unequal treatment contributed to the social uprising known as Trinta di Mei (May 30).

In 1985, Shell ended its operations and transferred the refinery to the local government. The refinery later became known as Refineria Isla. Venezuela's state-owned oil company, PDVSA, received a lease to operate it.

At the end of 2019, PDVSA's lease expired, and refining operations stopped.

The refinery brought jobs and economic development to Curaçao. However, it also contributed to serious environmental problems, including air pollution and contamination. Its history teaches us that industrial development can bring opportunities as well as challenges for people and nature.