TotalEnergies Aligns Social Investments with Suriname’s Needs
PARAMARIBO – TotalEnergies has so far invested approximately US$5 million in social projects in Suriname. However, no fixed budget has been established for such investments for the remaining 40-year duration of the GranMorgu project. According to CEO Patrick Pouyanné, spending could rise to around US$10 million in the coming years.
Pouyanné made this announcement on September 19, during the event “GranMorgu: A New Dawn Taking Shape,” where journalists were shown materials for future oil production. He emphasized that the French energy company wants to align its social investments with Suriname’s needs, rather than deciding from its headquarters in Paris which projects should be undertaken.
Agricultural sector
“For example, what Namibia needs may not be what Suriname needs,” he said. In addition to education and training, the company is also exploring ways to support the agricultural sector. TotalEnergies works with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), schools and other organizations that propose projects.
Healthcare is also among the sectors in which the company is active. At ’s Lands Hospitaal, the Mother and Child Center and outpatient clinics have been renovated. Work is now underway on further modernization of the inpatient building and the historic wooden main building. The work is being carried out in phases and is expected to be completed by April 2027.
Medical director Soenita Nannan Panday-Gopisingh expressed her appreciation for the support. The preservation of the historic building, which she said is the oldest hospital in the Caribbean, is also part of the renovation project.
In addition to its social investments, TotalEnergies wants to increasingly employ Surinamese workers rather than foreign specialists in carrying out the GranMorgu project. The company aims to ensure that local families also benefit from the economic activity generated by the offshore oil and gas industry.