Suriname signs MOU with TotalEnergies to strengthen education and local content
The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labor, the Ministry of Oil, Gas and Environment, Staatsolie, and TotalEnergies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) this afternoon during the Suriname Energy, Oil & Gas Summit and Exhibition, SEOGS 2026, to strengthen education and develop local content. The initiative is named SURICAP.
According to Minister Patrick Brunings of Oil, Gas and Environment, the agreement is of great importance for the future of Suriname.”Although this program focuses on the oil and gas sector, it will also have spin-off effects for other sectors. The skills and knowledge acquired can be applied more broadly later on. That is important, because we do not want only the oil and gas sector to grow. We must ensure that other sectors are included as well, so that the economy does not become vulnerable if oil and gas activities ever decline.”
According to Brunings, SURICAP should help Suriname prepare for the 2028-2030 period, when oil production is scheduled to start. “For me, the M in MOU also stands for motivation. We want to make it clear to young people what opportunities are coming their way and encourage them to invest in themselves. This also gives young people who have interrupted their education a new chance to further develop themselves.”
The minister emphasized that the government wants to prevent future wealth from ending up with only a small group.
“It makes no sense if we achieve economic success while only a limited group benefits from it. That is why this program is so important. It must contribute to development in various sectors and benefit society as a whole.”
Shortage of technical personnel
During panel discussions of the Local Content Forum hosted by APA Suriname, it emerged that Suriname is struggling with a shortage of technically skilled personnel. Brunings acknowledges that the challenge is significant.
“It is difficult to determine exactly how far behind we are. What we do see is that companies can currently still attract local personnel, but the labor market is becoming increasingly tight. That is why we are launching this program.” The minister also referred to the national summit being organized in August to map out future labor market needs.
“We want to gain insight into which workforce is needed for a so-called Suriname 3.0, both within the oil and gas sector and beyond. In doing so, we are involving ministries, the private sector, NGOs, religious organizations, youth organizations, and other stakeholders. Together, we want to determine which skills and professions are needed for a new Suriname and how our education system must be aligned with that.”According to Brunings, the developments align well.”As I said earlier: the stars are aligning. Everything is falling into place.”
Growth of SEOGS
Brunings says he is impressed by the development the Suriname Energy, Oil & Gas Summit has undergone. “I was part of the organizing team for the first edition of SEOGS. As a result, I have seen the conference grow up close. From the start, I saw the potential to become larger and more international. According to the minister, the current edition proves that this growth has become a reality. “The halls are full, the exhibition stands are occupied, and interest is coming from virtually all parts of the world. This shows that Suriname is growing as a country and as an industry. Hopefully, that growth will also translate to other sectors.”He notes that Suriname’s international reputation has increased significantly.
“In the past, I often had to explain where Suriname was located at conferences. Nowadays, that is no longer necessary. This has to do with our oil and gas reserves, but also with our strong position regarding nature and the environment. This is the perfect moment to connect strategic partners to Suriname.”