Event and Industry News

Watching the Financial Times documentary Big Oil’s New Frontiers from a hotel bar during my first visit to Caracas, before returning to Paramaribo for SEOGS 2026, I was struck by how closely its narrative reflects conversations taking place across the energy landscape of Latin America and the Caribbean.

With a current focus on the Americas, one observation from the documentary particularly resonated with me: ‘strategically #Latin #America only goes up in importance in any company’s portfolio’. Having spent more than two decades in emerging energy markets across Africa and the Americas, I found the documentary offered a balanced perspective on the realities of the world we live in today: the need for more energy, lower carbon intensity, and a pragmatic balance between natural resource development, sustainable growth and diversification.

As I look back on our recent ADELATAM event in #Argentina with partners ADELAT, I am reminded of the importance of investment in electricity transition as an enabler of the wider energy transition.

Looking ahead to our event in Suriname with partners Staatsolie, we have themed this year’s executive summit around Oil, Gas & Environment, reflecting both the creation of Suriname’s Ministry of Oil, Gas and Environment and the country’s ambitious vision to use its incoming natural resource wealth and partnerships with IOCs like TotalEnergies, Petronas, Chevron, Shell, PetroChina and others to protect its rainforest while diversifying and developing its economy. 

A quote from Artur Nunes-Da-Silva, who is leading the US$10.5 billion GranMorgu Project, resonates… ‘I am quite optimistic, I see rational, pragmatic and reasonable people’. I too believe Suriname’s future is bright and that, with stronger institutions and under the leadership of H.E. Jennifer Simons, President of the Republic of Suriname, the country can deliver on its promise of preserving its rainforests for the benefit of the world while creating lasting prosperity for its people. For our part over the last 6 years through SEOGS and our joint venture with Staatsolie we have invested more than US$750,000 in corporate social responsibility initiatives encompassing health, educational infrastructure, technical education and in building workforce capability. As GEP Americas we have directly invested over US$400,000 in local staff and event infrastructure to deliver the Suriname Energy, Oil & Gas Summit & Exhibition, 23-26 June 2026, Paramaribo, Suriname providing the country with a platform serving the dual purpose of attracting global investment and promoting local content and entrepreneurship.

I am also optimistic the inaugural Venezuela International Oil & Gas Summit, taking place on 29–30 September 2026 in Caracas, will do its part in providing a trusted platform where global capital meets Venezuela’s energy renaissance and contributes to the country’s energy recovery and growth. Looking further ahead we will explore the relationship between energy, technology and sustainable development at this year’s Belize International Energy Forum, 2-3 December 2026, San Pedro, Ambergris, Belize.

As countries across the Americas seek to balance energy security, economic development and environmental responsibility, Suriname offers one of the most fascinating case studies anywhere in the world today. Its success will depend not only on resource wealth, but on the strength of its institutions, partnerships and long-term vision.

These are precisely the conversations we will be exploring at the 6th Suriname Energy, Oil & Gas Summit & Exhibition this June in Paramaribo as government, industry, finance and civil society come together to discuss Suriname’s next chapter.

— Alex Moulds
Regional Director, Global Event Partners