Schoof confirms €33 million for St. Maarten as part of Kingdom investment in resilient power grids

GREAT BAY--The Government of the Netherlands has confirmed the allocation of up to €33 million for St. Maarten to modernize and strengthen its electricity grid as part of a €150 million Kingdom package that also includes €63 million for Curaçao and €54 million for Aruba. The investments are designed to expand capacity for solar and wind generation and to improve the robustness of supply during extreme weather.

The distribution reflects population size, economic activity, and energy consumption across the three countries. Upgrades will focus on network reinforcement so that more renewable energy can be integrated safely and reliably.

During a press conference in Curaçao, Prime Minister Dick Schoof underscored the shared climate challenge. “Climate change is something we must tackle together, globally. Everyone is affected. We are seeing extreme heat and drought, or heavy rainfall and flooding, with impacts that reach further: failed harvests, uninhabitable areas, and disrupted ecosystems. The European and Caribbean parts of our Kingdom are particularly vulnerable,” he said. He noted his participation at the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, adding that the energy transition matters for climate, the economy, and energy security.

In Aruba, Prime Minister Schoof met with Prime Minister Mike Eman and Governor Alfonso Boekhoudt. He commended Aruba’s decision to close the refinery as a step toward a resilient economy and confirmed more than €53 million to strengthen Aruba’s grid so it can accept more solar and wind power. He acknowledged regional security concerns and stated that the Netherlands is not involved in United States military actions in the region, while remaining in close contact with the Caribbean countries of the Kingdom.

In Curaçao, he met with Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas and Governor Mauritsz de Kort, confirmed more than €60 million for grid reinforcement, discussed the situation on the island and wider regional tensions, and visited Marine Base Parera.

St. Maarten’s allocation aligns with Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina’s June announcement to advance sustainable energy across the six Dutch Caribbean islands, following discussions at the Caribbean Energy Conference in Curaçao. At the opening of the Kingdom Day Program during the Caribbean Climate & Energy Conference 2025, Prime Minister Mercelina highlighted the link between energy systems and disaster preparedness under the theme “From Vulnerability to Resilience, Caribbean Leadership in Climate and Energy Action.”

“In the Caribbean, where every storm cloud carries risk and every degree rise in temperature fuels uncertainty, we know one thing for sure, climate and energy resilience are inseparable,” he said. He outlined St. Maarten’s full-cycle preparedness approach, known as the Warm Side and Cold Side strategy, which includes risk assessments in schools, emergency drills, and the new Cell Broadcast Emergency Alert System funded by the World Bank Trust Fund. “Whether it is a hurricane, hazardous spill, or public health emergency, this system ensures our citizens are notified, informed, and empowered,” he stated.

The confirmed Kingdom investments create room for St. Maarten to integrate more renewable generation and to harden its grid against severe weather. Further technical planning with utilities and regulators will determine project sequencing and implementation details.

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