News Projects Sustainable Energy Social Improvement
2 min.
One thing is for sure: there is no lack of ambition when it comes to the Porto Kòrsou project on the island of Curaçao in the Caribbean Netherlands. This week, the initiators of the major port project presented plans to construct a landmark building on the waterfront of the land that used to belong to the old Isla oil refinery (see image above). They got the inspiration for the proposal from the city of Sydney, where great success was achieved with the design and construction of the Sydney Opera House. The idea would be for Curaçao to build its own landmark in similar fashion to the iconic Sydney symbol.
Counting on a refinery-less future
The majority of Porto Kòrsou’s board members used to be involved with the GreenTown project in Curaçao. GreenTown Curaçao is, according to its own website, “an environmentally friendly initiative with a mission. GreenTown wants to replace the heavily polluting oil refinery on Curaçao with a lively, green and vibrant city district around the harbor”. Several of Porto Kòrsou’s current board members claim that the GreenTown project has lost part of its quest for 100% sustainability though, which is what made Orlando Meulens, Sven Rusticus, Ronald van Sluisveld en Marc Arnol decide to focus on another plan. A plan based on a Curaçao without oil refinery.
After all, for all the ambition and enthusiasm presented by Porto Kòrsou and the landmark project, its feasibility it almost entirely dependent on the fate of the Isla refinery. The plans for a major landmark are directly related to the presence of the facility. If it indeed ends up being closed permanently, the Curaçao landmark comes a step closer to becoming reality. If the local authorities do manage to find a party willing to continue the operation of the refinery, the land needed for the construction of the landmark will not be available, which would essentially put the plans to bed before they could even come into serious consideration. For the moment though, it looks like no operator will be found for the refinery, as the Curaçaon authorities have been searching for one since 2020.
Major project with a social aspect
Even though the idea for the Curaçao landmark was inspired by the Sydney Opera House, the actual construction plans are based on Plaza Nobo in Punda, the eastern part of the Willemstad’s historical center. This is clearly illustrated by, among other things, the jagged roof designs of the three towers that would form the landmark, almost identical to Plaza Nobo’s roof. The area as a whole should be converted in a social hotspot and a meeting place for locals and visitors alike.
At the same time, the project’s initiators want to keep the focus on a sustainable future as well, especially after what they consider the failure of the GreenTown project. “This monumental building is a first step towards a more sustainable future”, says Meulens about the landmark initiative, “It is meant to make people think and to contribute to the future of Curaçao’s port. In the eleven years that we have been working on a better future for Curaçao, we have built up an extensive network of people, companies and institutions who support our vision and the landmark project”.
Local initiatives and local jobs
The previously mentioned network is formed by parties who are willing to work on the island and invest in Curaçao. Their ambitions are not just limited to the Porto Kòrsou landmark project, but also include plans for a recycling plant, a waste-to-energy plant, and a brand-new modern marina. One of the main motivations for these projects is the creation of employment, as Porto Kòrsou estimates that just one superyacht equals about forty jobs, which is what Meulens and the rest are aiming for. “We are helping people to find work again, to give them a purpose in life and a fixed income as well”, he says.
The basis for this article was originally published on www.curacao.nu and others in June 2022.
