A decade after launching commercial gold extraction operations at its Merian mine in Suriname, Newmont Suriname, a subsidiary of global gold mining giant Newmont Corporation, is preparing for decades of further activity, with clear pathways to expand its production footprint in the South American nation.
The company marked the 10-year anniversary of commercial production at the Merian site on a Friday, with senior company leaders and Suriname’s top government officials in attendance to celebrate the milestone and outline the project’s future. Since full operations kicked off in 2016, the Merian mine has produced 4 million ounces of gold, generating approximately $6.6 billion in total cumulative revenue over the period, according to Shirley Sowma-Sumter, External Director and Country Manager of Newmont Suriname.
Of that total revenue, Newmont calculations show that $4.74 billion, equal to 73% of all revenue generated over the 10-year window, has been directly injected into Suriname’s domestic economy through local spending, procurement, wages, and community investments. Currently, the operation runs two active open pits—Merian 1 and Merian 2—and company leaders have confirmed that geological assessments have identified viable opportunities to expand mining activities at the site in coming years.
Suriname President Jennifer Simons, who was directly involved in the original approval of the Merian project a decade ago during her tenure as Speaker of the National Assembly, told attendees at the anniversary celebration that the mine’s planned long-term operation brings much-needed economic stability to the country. But she emphasized that growth in the gold mining sector must deliver shared benefits rather than come at the expense of Suriname’s other key economic industries, a position confirmed by Suriname’s Communication Service.
A core priority moving forward, Simons stressed, must be ensuring that Indigenous and local communities living near the Merian mine and other mining projects across the country directly share in the economic gains from resource extraction. “Local communities must always benefit from developments that take place on their land and in their backyards,” the president stated. She added that strengthening and better regulating Suriname’s gold sector is critical to ensuring it contributes to long-term, sustainable national development that lifts all segments of the population.
Dave Meador, Newmont Corporation’s Managing Director for the Americas, echoed the president’s call for inclusive, sustainable growth, noting that the Merian mine’s success should not be measured solely by total gold output. “Our legacy here will be defined by the opportunities we create for Surinamese businesses and workers, the investments we make in local communities, and the positive long-term impact we leave behind,” Meador said.
Looking ahead, Newmont has committed to centering three core priorities for its Suriname operations in the coming years: upholding rigorous workplace safety standards, deepening partnerships with local businesses and community groups, and building long-term, sustainable value for both the company and Suriname as a whole. During President Simons’ visit to the mine site, she received a full tour of the operation, receiving detailed briefings on active extraction processes and gold refining procedures. She was joined on the tour by Minister of Natural Resources David Abiamofo, Chief of Staff Sergio Akiemboto from the President’s Cabinet, representatives of Suriname’s Traditional Authority, and Rudolf Elias, president-commissioner of Suriname’s state-owned oil company Staatsolie.