A student team from the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Student Chapter at Anton de Kom University of Suriname (AdeKUS) is set to carry Suriname’s flag at the 2026 Latin America and the Caribbean Regional PetroBowl, scheduled for May 15 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The quiz-style competition is held as a core event of the annual regional SPE Student Symposium, gathering top university student teams from across the region to compete in expertise, collaboration and professional growth.
Organized globally by SPE International, the PetroBowl is a leading international academic competition centered on technical and industry knowledge specific to the oil and gas sector. Unlike standard academic quizzes, the contest is designed to test deep domain expertise, fast problem-solving, and cohesive teamwork, with a core mission of nurturing the next generation of energy sector professionals.
The 2026 Surinamese delegation consists of five members: team captain Rishano Hapdoel, competitors Altaaf Sultan, Latusca Reboe, and Ariantxa Djojodikromo, with academic mentors Manisha Ori and Shaïza Simons guiding the team ahead of the competition. This year’s participation builds on a historic milestone for the program: in 2024, AdeKUS’s student team claimed the regional PetroBowl championship title, a win that put Suriname’s emerging energy talent on the international map and highlighted the high caliber of the university’s petroleum-related programs.
Beyond competition, the PetroBowl serves as a globally recognized platform for talent development. For participating students, the event offers far more than an opportunity to test their knowledge against international peers. It opens doors to structured professional development opportunities, including specialized technical training, cross-border networking events with industry leaders, and pathways to global competitions such as the international PetroBowl and SPE’s Student Paper Competition. These experiences directly prepare young professionals to tackle the complex technical and social challenges facing the modern energy sector.
The Suriname team’s trip and participation are made possible through collaborative support from local industry and regional SPE bodies, including SPE Suriname (SPESUR), national energy firm Staatsolie, and local enterprise Self-Reliance. For these backers, supporting the student delegation is more than sponsorship—it is an investment in developing local talent and building domestic expertise in Suriname’s growing energy sector. The partnership also underscores the critical value of bridging academic education and industrial practice to advance the sustainable development of Suriname’s energy industry, as the country continues to expand its presence in the global oil and gas market.