Solar Magazine – Roadmap for 100 percent sustainable energy in the Caribbean Netherlands ready in January
The roadmap to make the energy supply of the Caribbean Netherlands 100 percent sustainable will be ready in January 2022. This is reported by Minister of Finance Wopke Hoekstra and State Secretary of Finance Hans Vijlbrief.
The ministers report this in response to parliamentary questions from the Party for the Animals that the cabinet is prepared to grant Bonaire Fuel Terminals new statutes stating that new fossil infrastructure will be constructed.
Fuel Storage
Last spring, the cabinet started to provide Bonaire Fuel Terminals (BBT) with the safe storage and delivery of fuels on Bonaire. BBT is having 2 fuel storage facilities built: a small modern fuel storage facility with Bonaire independent of others over the years fuel storage for the modern terminal for the storage of diesel and kerosene at the airport.
The government has stated as a reason for the arrival of BBT that electricity and drinking water production will come to a standstill without the supply of sufficient fuels. In order to take steps towards a sustainable energy supply on Bonaire, the cabinet wants BBT to contribute to the development and supply of future energy on the island.
Necessary
Hoekstra and Vijlbrief state that the arrival of the 2 is necessary to be able to provide the required fuel supply of fuels for electricity and drinking water production and the road and air way. For a large part of Bonaire focus on realizing fuel storage for traffic to, from and on the island of Bonaire. It is a scheduled date to be flown in the short term and can be transported in a completely sustainable manner, especially considering the largely intercontinental aviation, which accounts for about 30 to 40 percent of the fuel storage of the policy participation. The storage facility for fuel for electricity production only comprises about 30 percent of the storages that BBT will realize. For this reason, the government considers it important that BBT realize the necessary fuel storage facilities.’
Autumn note
Nevertheless, according to the two ministers, sustainability on Bonaire has the full attention of the cabinet. ‘The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate is working on a plan for BAT for investments in renewable energy on Bonaire.
The Ministry has reserved a maximum of 10 million euros for this plan. This allows BBT to attract capital for investments in sustainable energy on Bonaire. According to Hoekstra and Vijlbrief, BBT is in talks with the parties on Bonaire to take steps in the short term to make electricity production more sustainable. ‘BBT thus safeguards the guarantee for electricity and drinking water production and the road and air traffic of Bonaire in a safe manner and BBT can take steps towards making electricity production on Bonaire more sustainable.’
In addition, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy is having a roadmap drawn up to a 100 percent sustainable energy supply in the Caribbean Netherlands. Hoekstra and Vijlbrief briefly: ‘The role of BBT in sustainability on Bonaire is also examined. State Secretary Yeşilgöz-Zegerius expects to send the roadmap to the House of Representatives in January 2022.’