Arend Petroleum Company

In 1927, a lively development started near Oranjestad, located on the coast of the island of Aruba. This development would ultimately have a significant influence on the daily life of this small town, bringing notable changes to employment opportunities for many residents and equally substantial changes to their prospects for livelihood.[3]

Isaac Wagemaker, lieutenant governor (1930)

Oranjestad underwent substantial transformation, becoming a densely populated city. It hosted three banks: the Dutch Bank for the West Indies (represented by John Eman), Curiël's Bank (represented by W. Craane), and Maduro's Bank (represented by Adriaan Laclé). Notable trading houses included Laclé, Arends, Debrot and Hart, Craane, Mansur, and Luis Posner. Ruiz' ice factory expanded and incorporated state-of-the-art machinery.

Both a public school and a Roman Catholic school were established. Besides Papiamento, it appeared that English was on the verge of surpassing Dutch as the dominant language.

Isaac Wagemaker served as the lieutenant governor of Aruba from 1928 to 1945, actively striving to ensure Aruba kept pace with the times.[4]

To the west of Paardenbaai, cargo ships anchored, and a significant amount of construction material was transported from them to the shore using smaller boats called lighters. With this material, the construction of the Taratata Shipyard, which has become well known in Aruba, commenced as the first building project at the location.

Soon after the completion of the Taratata Shipyard, a continuous flow of essential heavy equipment for constructing an oil refinery, including tanks and an oil loading and unloading jetty, started arriving at the newly built dock from cargo ships.

old Taratata wharf west of Paardenbaai

Unloading reaction chamber from steamer at old Taratata wharf

Similar to the neighboring island of Curaçao, Aruba is strategically positioned in relation to the abundant oil fields in Venezuela. The favorable location of the Arend Petroleum Company near Oranjestad was a direct result of this advantage. Additionally, the significant role played by the increasing global demand for oil products during the early 20th century further motivated this establishment.

Ocean view. Railway F-shaped Eagle Pier

Shore view. Eagle Pier

A prominent coastal point, located approximately 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) west of the Taratata Shipyard, was chosen as the site for constructing an oil pier for the refinery. In early 1928, after completing the pier and the necessary pipeline system, the first shipment of crude oil from Venezuela arrived here for storage in the tanks of Arend Petroleum Company. These tanks had also been constructed further inland. The oil pier mentioned was a steel structure that extends 400 meters into the open sea in an "F" shape. It was specifically designed to handle two large ocean tankers for transporting processed oil products, as well as two small tanker ships called lake tankers for importing crude oil from Venezuela. This configuration allows for simultaneous loading and unloading operations to take place.[3]

At first, the construction personnel stayed in temporary sheds and tents on Druifbaai Beach while building the pier and refinery. As the company's residential houses were completed in the initial months, they relocated to the Eagle village situated between the factory site and Oranjestad.

Aerial view of Storage tanks and village in the distance (upper-right)
(1940–1945)

The refinery included a "Trumble" crude oil distillation facility[5] (a less efficient and environmental friendly process than crude oil distillation unit (CDU)), a boiler house for steam supply, an electric power plant for lighting and power generation, an oxygen and ice factory, as well as necessary pumping installations, warehouses, workshops, office spaces, and several oil storage tanks with a total capacity of 350,000 cubic metres (12,000,000 cu ft).

After intensive work, the refinery was finished in the early months of 1928. It was put into operation in May of that year, showing promising results. Shortly thereafter, it achieved a processing capacity of 3,000 tons of crude oil per day, producing fuel oil, gas oil, diesel oil, and gasoline. Three tanker ships, each with a capacity of 2600 tons, were developed for transporting crude oil from oil fields around Lake Maracaibo to Aruba. After the refinery and fleet were put into operation, marking the completion of the initial construction phase of Arend Petroleum Company, the production remained at its full capacity for the following seven years as described earlier.[6]

Headquarter of CPIM in Curaçao
(1955)

However, in 1935, there were some changes. The expansions undertaken by Curaçao Petroleum Industries Company Ltd. (CPIM) and Lago Oil and Transport Company Ltd. in Curacao and Aruba, respectively, led to a slight decrease in the supply of crude oil to the smaller "Arend" refinery. From 1935 to 1938, the company had to adjust to more modest processing and could not always operate at its maximum capacity.

Cracking installation
(1935)

In order to meet the growing global demand for a wider range of end products, the refinery underwent an expansion in 1935. Alongside the existing Trumble distillation facility, a cracking unit was built. In the subsequent years, from 1936 to 1938, the tank storage facility was also expanded to accommodate larger quantities and a greater variety of products, resulting in a total storage capacity of over 700,000 cubic metres (25,000,000 cu ft). By early 1939, a more consistent supply of crude oil was achieved, allowing the company to operate at full capacity once again. This momentum continued until the end of 1942. Following the onset of World War II, the production of Arend Petroleum Company was progressively oriented towards meeting the high demand for oil in wartime activities.[7]

WI 329 – Captain Robert Briskin of the US army (right) and a Dutch officer inspecting a German torpedo found on the beach near Eagle Pier (17 February 1942)

During the third year of the war, on a dark night on February 16, 1942, Aruba was attacked by a German submarines U-156. The assailant targeted several ships near the island and at the piers of the oil companies operating in Aruba, causing considerable damage. A German torpedo struck an American vessel at the "Arend" pier, but fortunately, the ship had been emptied of gas. Despite sustaining significant damage, it remained afloat without catching fire. Another torpedo landed on the Druif/Eagle Beach near the saltwater pumping house of the refinery. On February 17, Captain Robert Briskin of the US army and a Dutch officer inspected the torpedo, and authorities determined it to be a dud. However, when Dutch experts attempted to dismantle the torpedo, it unexpectedly exploded, claiming the lives of four Dutch Navy marines.[8] Among the brave marines who tragically lost their lives were Leonardus Kooijman,[9] Johannes Vogelezang,[10] Pieter Joosse,[11] and Dirk Adriaan Cornelis de Maagd.[12] It is worth acknowledging the exceptional corage displayed by the fishermen of Oranjestad during those perilous days. Promptly setting sail in their boats during the attack, they heroically rescued numerous survivors from the impacted tanker ships, ensuring their safe return to land.[13]

In late 1942, due to practical reasons, the decision was made to temporarily close down the oil processing facilities of the "Arend" refinery. The demands of wartime operations necessitated a greater supply of various aviation fuels, which this refinery lacked the necessary equipment to produce. Therefore, priority was to refineries that had the required facilities. As a result, all available crude oil from Venezuela was redirected to these refineries, ensuring maximum production of the essential oil products needed for the war effort. Consequently, the affected employees found temporary employment at the CPIM in Curaçao and the Lago Oil Transport Company Ltd in Aruba, where their skills were effectively utilized to support the increased wartime production.[14]

Nonetheless, The Arend storage and shipping facilities played a crucial role as a transit point for temporary storage and transshipment of crude oil and finished products. Nearby oil companies, CPIM and Lago, highly values this extra storage space. With the war progressing favorably, the refinery anticipated reopening in early 1945. Personnel eagerly returned as the facilities were fully restored within a month. Work resumed without interruption or reduced capacity. Some tanks were relocated to Venezuela and Colombia due to decreased post-war demand. Nevertheless, the Arend still maintained a strorage capacity of 350,000,000 liters (92,000,000 U.S. gal).[14]

At that time, the number of employees in the Arend company amounted to 440 people, of whom about forty, due to their nature of their work, resided with their families in the company houses in the Eagle village, in close proximity to the facilities.[14] The workforce mainly consisted of Aruban workers who resided across the entire island and commute to work daily by truck. The majority of the office consisted of Englishmen.[15]

Aerial view. Eagle village, a residential area near the refinery (1940–1945)

Houses at Eagle/Arend Camp (1935)

Eagle Village was located about one kilometer east of Punta Braboe. The area consisted of approximately 24 houses that were constructed.[2] The houses were wooden bungalows, arranged around their own clubhouse, which has been the center of gatherings and various festivities since the establishment of the company. Furthermore, the company provided tennis courts, an outdoor cinema, a swimming pool, a golf course, and a sport field for employees in this area.

Initially, the company managed its own hospital for its personnel, but since the reopening in 1945, this arrangement had been discontinued, but a company clinic was available, while any other necessary hospital care was provided at the San Pedro Hospital in Aruba.

Since its establishment, the Arend has been responsible for the electricity supply of nearby Oranjestad.[14]