Suriname Energy
Local Content Conference 2025
Theme of this year’s conference:
Financing the Future: Local Content, Green Growth & Partnerships
Join leaders in energy, finance, and sustainability for three days of transformative dialogue, strategic networking, and shaping Suriname’s future through local content, green growth, and partnerships.
Date: October 21-23, 2025
Day 1: Marriott Hotel, Paramaribo, Suriname
Day 2. Assuria High Rise, Paramaribo, Suriname
Day 3: Various locations in Paramaribo
Attendees
Speakers & Panelists
Days
Sessions
Forword
We Stand at the Threshold of Economic Transformation
As Suriname stands at the threshold of an unprecedented economic transformation fueled by its burgeoning oil and gas industry, it is essential that this growth is inclusive, sustainable, and grounded in transparency. The Energy Month Conference is a direct response to this national imperative.
Driven by the Suriname Energy Chamber and proudly supported by Afreximbank, TotalEnergies and the Energy Authority Suriname (EAS), in collaboration with the Government, this initiative reflects our commitment to enabling Surinamese entrepreneurs, institutions, and communities to participate meaningfully in the evolving energy landscape. We are not only talking about oil and gas — we are talking about people, financing local businesses small and big, economic diversification, green growth, and the systems that ensure these opportunities translate into tangible and lasting development.
This three-day high-level conference unites government leaders, international financial institutions, industry, and entrepreneurs to shape Suriname’s Local Content future. Our goal is to build a modern ecosystem — grounded in compliance, supported by finance, and guided by sustainability. Over these three days, we will work toward a common national starting point for what Local Content means to Suriname: how our people, institutions, and businesses can participate responsibly in national growth. Together, we lay the foundation for a resilient Suriname — one that combines economic opportunity with transparency, accountability, and respect for the environment.
Orlando Olmberg
President, Suriname Energy Chamber
Background
Project Overview: Building Suriname’s Energy Economy from Within
The Final Investment Decision (FID) for TotalEnergies’ GranMorgu project marks a pivotal moment in Suriname’s energy sector. With over US$1.5 billion committed to local content and a US$5 billion loan facility from Afreximbank to support local participation, Suriname now has an unprecedented opportunity to shape its economic future from within.
Beyond the energy sector, this local content opportunity can drive economic diversification — stimulating growth in construction, logistics, manufacturing, services, agriculture, renewable energy, and even tourism. At the same time, global attention to climate resilience and ESG standards places Suriname at a crossroads: the challenge is to ensure rapid growth while upholding sustainability, compliance, and fair access for all.
Our Objectives
This three-day conference defines what Local Content means for Suriname — building a common national starting point for inclusive, compliant, and sustainable growth.
Empower Local Growth
Strengthen access to finance and build the capacity of Surinamese businesses to participate meaningfully in the energy and industrial value chain.
Diversify the Economy
Use local content as a catalyst to expand opportunities across construction, logistics, agriculture, services, manufacturing, renewable energy, and tourism.
Ensure a Sustainable and Compliant Future
Align Suriname’s development with global standards, climate goals, and transparent practices — ensuring growth that is both responsible and resilient.
Our Strategic Partners
Endorsed by
- The Cabinet of the President and Vice President
- Minstry of Oil, Gas and Environment (OGM)
- Ministry of Natural Resources
- Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZOTI)
- Ministry of Finance
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Supporting Organisations
Conference Schedule
Here is a comprehensive draft for the 3-day Energy Month Conference Agenda, developed in the proper context of Suriname’s economic diversification, local content advancement, and sustainable development goals. The initiative is spearheaded by the Suriname Energy Chamber, with support from Afreximbank, TotalEnergies and the Energy Authority Suriname (EAS), in collaboration with the government of Suriname.
Day 1:
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Welcome Cocktail Reception & Networking
18:00 – 21:00
Location: Courtyard Marriott
• An evening of networking for speakers, delegates, and special guests to connect and set the stage for the days ahead.
Day 2:
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Theme: From local strength to green growth
Location: Assuria High Rise, Paramaribo
Conference Moderator: Mavrick Boejoekoe (Chair Member, Suriname Energy Chamber)
8.30 – 9 am
Registration & Welcome coffee
9.00 – 9:30 am
Opening Ceremony
Welcome Remarks:
• Mr. Orlando Olmberg, President, Suriname Energy Chamber (SEC)
Official Opening Address:
• His Excellency Gregory Rusland, Vice President of the Republic of Suriname
Opening Speeches:
• Mr. Ashwin Adhin, Speaker of the National Assembly
• Representative Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname N.V.
• Mr. Artur Nunes da Silva, Country Chair, TotalEnergies Suriname
9.30am – 9:50am
Keynote Address:
Topic: Financial Mechanisms for Sustainable Local Content Development
Speaker: Mr. Raymond Ward, Representative, Afreximbank
9.50am-10:35am
Panel Discussion 1:
Topic: How to Finance Local Content and the Green Transition This panel will explore innovative financing models, investment strategies, and the role of financial institutions in supporting local businesses in the energy sector.
Panelists:
Mr. Raymond Ward, Representative, Afreximbank
Mr. Brian Alleyne, Managing Director, Republic Bank (Suriname) N.V.
Mr. Robert Grant, Managing Director, Quoin Advisors
Dr. Alista Bishop, Corporate Controller, Caribbean CAGE
Mr. Rudolf Elias, Chair of Staatsolie Supervisory Board
10:35am – 10:45am
Networking & Coffee Break
10.45 – 11.30am
Panel Discussion 2
Topic: Bridging perspectives & reaching common ground for Local Content Development – How communication shapes collaboration and commitments.
Panelists:
Angela van der Kooye, Chair Centre for Communication & Public Relations (CCPR) and Director AK Communication Consultancy
Sheetal Ganput, General Affairs Manager Datasur & board member CCPR
Kamlesh Ganesh, Director VSB (Suriname Business Association)
Glenn Truideman, Media professional & radio presenter ABC
11:30am – 11.50am
Keynote Address:
Topic: The Sustainable Development Road: Enabling Conditions for Local Content as a Pillar of Diversification
Speaker: Mr. Rudolf Elias, Chair of Staatsolie Supervisory Board
11:50am –12:45am
Panel Discussion 3
Topic: Common Ground: Local Content, Sustainable Development, and the Green Transition. A discussion on creating the enabling legal, educational, and infrastructural conditions for local content to thrive and drive Suriname’s sustainable development goals.
Panelists:
– Mr. Antony Ellis, Commercial Director, Century Energy
– Mr. Anthony Gee, Co-Founder, Koncept House Holdings
– Mr. Sheldon Davis. Managing Director, Century Energy
– Ms. Dawn-Marie Simpson, President Simpson International Consulting Group
– Mr. Dave Abeleven – Independent Consultant
– Parliament commission for education & public work
12:45 – 13:15
Networking Launch
13:15 – 14.15
Delegates choose one session to attend.
Room 1: Input on defining Local Content: A Shared Perspective for Suriname
Room 2: Qualification & Compliance: Raising the Bar for Global Participation
Room 3: Building Sustainable Supply Chains Beyond Oil & Gas
14:15 – 15:15
Roundtable of industry leaders
Topic: Aligning business insights into local content Framework
- VES (Suriname Trade and Industry Association)
- SBF (Suriname Business Forum)
- ASFA (Suriname Bankers Association)
- SEC (Suriname Energy Chamber
- Parliament commission for oil, gas & environment
15:15 – 16:00
Workshop Breakout Sessions – Round 2
Delegates choose one session to attend.
Room 1: Public-Private Partnerships: Models for Success in the Energy Sector
Room 2: Closing the Gaps: Opportunities from Block 58 & Industrial Studies
Room 3: Beyond Borders: Regional Cooperation for Shared Growth
16:00
Closing Remarks – identify working groups for local content roadmap
Summary of key insights
Day 3:
Thursday October 23, 2025
B2B & Site Visits (Various locations)
Business to business meetings at several locations & field visits in collaboration with Sita, Humus group, NV EBS and other organizations. Pre- registration on day 2.
Conference Convener
About the Suriname Energy Chamber
The Suriname Energy Chamber (SEC) acts as a national platform for the energy sector, creating an open space for dialogue, research, and business development in energy and the energy transition.
It serves as a multidisciplinary platform where companies, civil society, government institutions, financial organizations, multilateral partners, SMEs, and international investors collaborate to develop, coordinate, and implement innovative, long-term energy transition strategies — translated into concrete actions and partnerships.
The SEC also acts as a bridge between the private sector and the Government of Suriname, facilitating public–private partnerships that strengthen policy alignment, investment coordination, and sustainable sector growth.
Through initiatives such as the Local Content Conference, SEC promotes inclusive growth, sustainable investment, and regional collaboration, ensuring that Suriname’s energy future is both responsible and opportunity-driven.
Click here to visit our website.
Email: info@sec.sr
Call: (+597) 884 7022