Law firm VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne

Energy & Natural Resources


Companies active in the energy and natural resources industries are operating in a changing regulatory framework and are facing environmental challenges. The world is demanding the utilization of renewable natural resources.

However, maintaining an economically viable, secure and reliable supply while anticipating these changes isn’t a given. Companies are being transformed. We notice parallel issues amongst former utility companies (i.e. organizations maintaining the infrastructure for a public service).

Strategic questions such as: who owns the grid and who is supplying the service? And who will continue to provide it during the next decade? Decentralization versus central production; privatization versus state-owned enterprises; what can be done about the wildly fluctuating oil prices influencing the world economy, particularly in these sectors; etc.
 
Our Energy & Natural Resources team has for decades played a prominent role in the transformation of the regional utility industries: in particular the BOO Project in 2000 when a new utility facility was built in Curacao – the largest energy construction project in the former Netherlands Antilles.

 

We support clients at every stage of the process and our specialized lawyers provide advice on the complex issues characterizing the energy and natural resources industry. For example, we are involved in energy contracts, strategic alliances, dispute resolution, power asset deals, financing and environmental law.

We assist major players in the field of mainstream and sustainable energy and other natural resources such as water, mining and timber, for example the owner company of the Curacao refinery; government-owned utility companies of Curacao and Bonaire; former international operator of the utility plant in St. Maarten; oil terminal on Sint Eustatius; and the largest green energy company in the Netherlands with interests in the Netherlands Antilles. We are also closely involved in public sector issues and the challenges faced by public sector clients. 
 
We are able to provide experienced lawyers and a team with the right blend of legal and commercial skills and geographical coverage to meet your requirements for specialized local advice or for international projects. Our team consists of several associates and two partners. 

Recently we have assisted:
  • A state owned utility company against Island Government of Curacao in relation to tariffs of electricity and water
  • A state owned utility company on collective labor agreements
  • AIB Bank and other lenders in 227 million florins financing of utility company W.E.B. Aruba
  • Alternative energy resources players on legal structures
  • An energy company in proceedings against its former managing director
  • Aqualectra, the Curacao based power company, on a Power Purchase Agreement with NuCapital to expand windmill parks on Curacao
  • Curacao Oil Refinery in litigation in relation to strike of personnel
  • Island Government of Curacao in negotiations with PDVSA, the Venezuelan state oil company, about the future of the Curacao refinery
  • National Investment Bank in a loan for utility company Elmar in Aruba
  • NuStar Energy in a procedure against St.Eustatius Monument Foundation regarding an oil terminal on St.Eustatius
  • State energy facility on Curacao in re-financing of its loans
  • Supervisory Board of an oil distribution company in a dispute with its managing director
  • Utility company WEB in a dispute regarding reconnecting electricity on Bonaire
  • Utility company WEB on a power purchase with Ecopower to deliver wind energy on Bonaire
Relevant news articles