Suriname’s energy sector received a significant workforce development boost on Thursday with the official launch of Energy Jobs Suriname, a digital employment platform initiated by TotalEnergies. The innovative portal immediately features 142 available positions while serving as a centralized hub for Surinamese citizens seeking opportunities within the country’s rapidly expanding energy industry.
The unveiling ceremony gathered government ministers, educational institution representatives, major contractors, and international energy companies, marking a pivotal moment in efforts to enhance local participation in Suriname’s emerging energy economy. The platform constitutes a core component of TotalEnergies’ local content program, which encompasses 14 strategic pillars designed to elevate Surinamese knowledge, skills, and economic engagement.
TotalEnergies EP Suriname General Manager Artur Nunes-da-Silva emphasized the platform’s role in increasing transparency and providing direct access to energy sector opportunities. “Energy Jobs Suriname transcends being merely a website—it represents a gateway to career possibilities and a concrete step toward integrating local talent into our industry’s growth,” Da Silva stated during the launch event.
The platform currently showcases 437 identified positions within the sector, with 142 vacancies immediately available. Seven major corporations—TotalEnergies, Staatsolie, SBM Offshore, Halliburton, OneSubsea, Weatherford, and CCC Group—have contributed these initial openings, with additional companies expected to join as the sector expands in coming months.
Education, Science, and Culture Minister Dirk Currie praised the initiative as a crucial advancement in national capacity building. “This platform bridges our people’s ambitions with opportunities in one of Suriname’s most vital sectors. It represents more than an instrument; it embodies a partnership between education, industry, and talent,” Minister Currie remarked.
The platform’s introduction coincides with growing recognition of Suriname’s need to address workforce qualification gaps. Industry representatives during a panel discussion highlighted shortages in skilled technicians, engineers, operators, and specialized professionals, emphasizing the critical importance of education and practical training.
Halliburton’s Operations Manager for Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago, Santiago Zambrano Figuerroa, noted the increasing importance of data analysis, automation, and digital competencies in modern oil and gas operations. Meanwhile, SBM Offshore’s Suriname Country Entry Manager Pierre Gaté emphasized that floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels will require a broad spectrum of technical positions that Surinamese workers could fill with proper training.
Staatsolie Hydrocarbon Institute Director Vandana Gangaram Panday identified structural challenges, noting that only 60% of Suriname’s potential workforce currently participates actively, with many youths failing to complete secondary education. “Without improvement, a significant gap will emerge between industry requirements and Suriname’s capabilities,” Gangaram Panday warned.
Oil, Gas, and Environment Minister Patrick Brunings discussed the platform’s strategic significance within Suriname’s broader economic transition. According to Minister Brunings, revenues and knowledge from the oil sector should establish foundations for “Suriname 2.0″—a diversified economy incorporating green industries, agriculture, ICT, and sustainable energy.
The Energy Jobs Suriname platform ultimately aims to evolve into a comprehensive national employment hub, extending beyond oil and gas to support emerging industries that will ensure economic sustainability. As Suriname prepares for its Granmorgu offshore oil development project, the platform represents a crucial mechanism for ensuring that energy sector benefits genuinely reach the Surinamese population.