A landmark renewable energy development in Suriname has brought permanent, round-the-clock electricity to 1,300 households in the rural Boven-Suriname region, following the official inauguration of a new solar power facility in the Langu area by President Jennifer Simons.
During the opening ceremony held on Sunday, President Simons emphasized that reliable access to energy is a foundational requirement for driving inclusive development across Suriname’s inland territories. She used the occasion to call on local young people to seize the new opportunities unlocked by consistent electricity access. “Take this chance to study harder and build meaningful futures for yourselves in our society,” the president told attendees. For other community members, she highlighted that the new power infrastructure can also be leveraged to grow local economic activity, encouraging residents to develop community-led initiatives such as eco-tourism camps to foster self-sufficient local growth.
The president noted that expanding electricity access across Suriname’s inland regions has been a years-long priority for the government. Planning for the broader electrification initiative first launched in 2019, with the core goal of delivering continuous power across the entire Boven-Suriname area. This newly completed solar facility forms part of the second phase of the national Suriname Villages Micro-grid Solar Project. According to the Suriname Communication Service, the construction and implementation of the project is being carried out by two experienced Chinese state-owned energy infrastructure firms, PowerChina and Sinohydro.
David Abiamofo, Suriname’s Minister of Natural Resources, outlined that the administration’s policy focuses on delivering long-term, structural solutions to improve living standards in inland communities. “The development we are pursuing for the interior is not just occasional access to power – it is 24-hour electricity every single day,” Abiamofo stated. He also expressed praise for the progress the government has delivered on this agenda, noting that “they say self-praise is unseemly, but I want to compliment the government of Suriname. Since we began work from Atjoni, almost all villages now have access to 24/7 power, and today it is Langu’s turn to benefit.”
Moving forward, Minister Abiamofo confirmed that the government is actively pursuing additional funding from regional and international development organizations to support further infrastructure projects across inland areas, acknowledging that public funding alone is not sufficient to deliver all planned improvements. Following the completion of the electrification project, the government’s next priority for the Langu area and surrounding communities is upgrading access to clean drinking water. In total, 26 villages across the region will gain access to safe, reliable drinking water through the upcoming initiative, and work on the water project is already underway, with the minister asking local communities for a small amount of additional patience as construction progresses.