Overview

• Suriname’s presidential and general elections on May 25 will determine who oversees its emerging oil sector and energy policy for the next five years.
• Incumbent President Chan Santokhi faces main challenger Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, both advocating for offshore oil development while addressing economic challenges.
• The country’s massive offshore oil reserves, led by TotalEnergies’ $10.5 billion GranMorgu project, are expected to begin production in 2028 and boost GDP by up to 55%.
• Santokhi has pledged to maintain Suriname’s carbon negative status, leveraging oil revenues for green energy transition and forest conservation.
• Suriname, with 90% Amazon rainforest cover, is battling high debt, inflation, and poverty, as it prepares to transform its economy through oil wealth.