The Surinamese government has taken a significant step forward in its offshore oil exploration efforts, as the State Oil Company (Staatsolie) presented the outcomes of the recent bidding round for shallow offshore blocks 9 and 10. The presentation, held at the Cabinet of the President on Monday, was attended by key stakeholders, including Natural Resources Minister David Abiamofo, who described the results as ‘encouraging.’
The bidding process, which ran from November 2024 to May 2025, targeted oil exploration in shallow waters off Suriname’s coast. International oil companies (IOCs) were invited to submit proposals for the two blocks. Following the conclusion of the bidding period, an independent evaluation committee reviewed the submissions and prepared recommendations, which were subsequently presented to the government by Staatsolie.
Minister Abiamofo revealed that the proposal will be further discussed in the Council of Ministers on Wednesday. ‘What I can already say is that the results are encouraging. Multiple bids were received, and for each block, a different international consortium has been proposed as the operator,’ he stated in a release from Suriname’s Communication Service. The minister emphasized that the current focus is on oil exploration and production, with the potential presence of associated natural gas to be addressed in later development phases.
This bidding round is part of Staatsolie’s broader strategy to develop Suriname’s offshore potential and attract new investors in anticipation of expected oil production in the coming years. The initiative underscores the country’s commitment to leveraging its natural resources for economic growth and energy development.