<article><p class="lead">Curacao's state-owned RdK released a batch of asphalt-quality bitumen in the first sale of inventory left behind by Venezuela's state-owned PdV.</p><p>The 73,000 tons of AC-30 bitumen loaded yesterday aboard the Hong Kong-flagged <i>Da Ming Shan</i> asphalt tanker, which ship-tracking services indicate is currently in Willemstad. </p><p>RdK did not identify the buyer or the value of the transaction. The vessel is currently on a time-charter contract with trading firm Gunvor.</p><p>RdK told <i>Argus</i> it expects to earn 60mn Curacao and Sint Maarten guilders ($33.5mn) from the sale of the varied inventory. </p><p>"Proceeds generated by the sale of all the products will be used to invest to guarantee the long-term sustainable future of the company," RdK said.</p><p>PdV had operated Curacao's 335,000 b/d Isla refinery and Bullen Bay terminal under a long-term lease that expired in December 2019. The Dutch-controlled Caribbean island's long efforts to find a new refinery operator have so far come up dry. </p><p>RdK is currently <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2237074?keywords=curacao">in the process of closing</a> its money-losing refinery utilities subsidiary CRU as of 30 September.</p><p>PdV has been the target of <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2237382?keywords=sanctions">US oil sanctions</a> since January 2019.</p><p class="bylines">By Patricia Garip</p></article>
