SURINAME · ENERGY, SOLAR POWER
Key Facts
- The country Suriname, a Dutch-speaking country of about 600,000 people on South America’s north coast.
- What happened On Friday 30 October 2026 the government said the country is short of about 80 megawatts of power.
- The warning Without timely expansion, the gap could reach 120 to 140 megawatts by 2030.
- The plan President Jennifer Simons wants faster solar power; at least four foreign firms offered plants totalling over 200 megawatts.
- The US angle Rotating power cuts of at least three hours have hit the capital region since 25 August 2026.
The Suriname power shortfall is about 80 megawatts (MW), the government said on Friday 30 October 2026. It could grow to between 120 and 140 MW by 2030.
President Jennifer Simons told a solar energy meeting in Paramaribo, the capital, that she wants solar power built faster. For US readers, the Suriname power shortfall matters to travelers, oil and gas investors and solar developers.
Why the Suriname Power Shortfall Matters
Sergio Akiemboto, the president’s chief of staff, gave the figures and said they are not forecasts but reality. On hot days demand reaches 290 MW and supply is 274 to 291 MW, Natural Resources Minister David Abiamofo told parliament on 22 October 2026.
That leaves almost no margin, so one plant taken offline for repairs can mean blackouts. The 80 MW gap is more than a quarter of peak demand.
Akiemboto said a Suriname power shortfall of this size hurts investment, economic growth and production costs. In the end, he said, it hurts the prosperity of the population.
What Simons Wants From Solar Power
Simons opened the meeting at the Congreshal, a conference hall in Paramaribo, on Friday 30 October 2026. The Cabinet of the President organized it, and Simons said at least four international companies have proposed solar plants totalling more than 200 MW.
In the first phase, she said, the state would pay nothing, and the electricity would be sold to EBS. She added that two banks now offer solar loans at reasonable interest.
Simons expects a clear rise in solar use by businesses and high-use households in 2027. She said Suriname should not rely only on the growth expected from oil and gas.
She pointed to higher oil prices linked to the war in the Middle East. She also noted the Afobaka hydropower plant, which supplies much of the country’s electricity, as a reason to add solar and other renewables.
Missing Rules Slow Large Solar Projects
Almost ten years after the Electricity Act of 2016, no large solar project has been built through the public tender the law requires, Akiemboto said. The rules for tenders, permits, grid connections and contract certainty for investors are still incomplete.
Simons agreed that the regulations are not yet in order, which keeps the Suriname power shortfall open. The meeting’s proposals will feed into the National Energy Roadmap for 2026 to 2035, the government’s plan for reliable power.
Power Cuts Since August
The Suriname power shortfall already shows in daily life, since EBS began rotating power cuts on 25 August 2026. Each lasts at least three hours and the cuts cover Paramaribo and the districts of Para, Wanica, Commewijne and Saramacca.
Abiamofo told parliament on 22 October that load-shedding could last until the end of November. It could run into early December, he said.
The Afobaka dam in the Brokopondo district was delivering about 110 MW. A sixth turbine was due to add about 30 MW of hydropower in the week after 22 October.
The government is weighing 28 MW of new solar and 100 MW of extra thermal capacity, meaning plants that burn fuel. The minister said such projects could take two to three years.
He put the sector’s needs at about US$500 million over two to three years on 2 September. That is more than the state-owned utilities can finance alone, he said.
Oil and Gas Raise the Stakes
Staatsolie, the state oil company, says the offshore GranMorgu oil project is on track for first oil in 2028. It aims to produce first gas around 2030 from Block 52, which it develops with Petronas, Malaysia’s state energy company.
A final investment decision on that gas is still pending. A government round table in June agreed to use expected gas from 2030 for cheaper electricity.
Staatsolie also wants two generators totalling 34 MW for about US$54 million as a bridge. Offshore oil adds demand too, because Staatsolie and EBS are discussing how to supply the growing offshore industry.
Oil prices matter on both sides of this story, since Simons tied her solar call to higher prices. In the United States, commercial crude oil stocks fell by 1.9 million barrels to 410.6 million in the week ending 23 October 2026.
What It Means for You
Visitors to Paramaribo should expect rotating outages of at least three hours in the capital region. Ask a hotel or rental about a backup generator, and keep phones and power banks charged.
For US investors and developers, the Suriname power shortfall is an opening that is not yet open. Four firms have offered over 200 MW of solar in total, but tenders, permits and grid rules are unfinished.
A solar plant would sell power to EBS, so the utility’s finances and contract terms are the first thing to check. Our earlier report on the government’s gas and solar plan and our guide to who runs Suriname give the background.
What Is Not Known
The government gave the 80 MW and 140 MW figures without naming the study behind them. It also does not say whether the 80 MW gap counts the sixth Afobaka turbine due after 22 October.
The government’s summary does not name the four solar companies, the sites or the start dates. It also gives no date for the missing rules or for the first public tender.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the Suriname power shortfall?
The government says the Suriname power shortfall is about 80 MW of available capacity. That is more than a quarter of the roughly 290 MW the main grid needs on very hot days.
Could the Suriname power shortfall reach 140 MW by 2030?
The government says it could reach 120 to 140 MW by 2030 without timely expansion. Chief of Staff Sergio Akiemboto described the figures as reality, not forecasts.
Will US visitors face power cuts in Suriname?
Because of the Suriname power shortfall, rotating cuts of at least three hours have hit Paramaribo and four nearby districts since 25 August 2026. The minister said they could last until the end of November and possibly into early December.
Can US companies build solar plants in Suriname?
At least four foreign companies have offered plants totalling over 200 MW, and the electricity would be sold to the state utility EBS. The rules for tenders, permits and grid connections are not yet complete.
Who is the president of Suriname?
Jennifer Simons is the president and opened the solar meeting on 30 October 2026. The Cabinet of the President organized it to feed the National Energy Roadmap for 2026 to 2035.
Sources: Government of Suriname, Strategic Roundtable on solar energy, Congreshal, 30 October 2026; Government of Suriname, news archive, 1 November 2026; National Assembly of Suriname (DNA), 22 October 2026; US Energy Information Administration, Weekly Petroleum Status Report, week ending 23 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief