Hydrocarbon cooperation on agenda as Venezuela’s Rodríguez to visit Suriname tomorrow

Suriname and Venezuela will discuss closer cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector during an official visit by Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez Gómez on September 11.

Rodríguez will travel to Paramaribo at the invitation of Surinamese President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons. The two leaders will be accompanied by delegations from their respective countries.

Hydrocarbons will be among the areas covered during the talks. The agenda also includes agriculture, fisheries, connectivity, tourism, education, and capacity building.

The discussions will bring together two countries with established petroleum industries but different development paths.

Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves. Much of its resource is heavy and extra-heavy oil in the Orinoco Belt. State-owned Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) remains central to the industry.

Venezuela has been working to restore production and attract new investment after years of sanctions, underinvestment, and infrastructure decline. OilNOW has reported on recent agreements intended to expand the involvement of international energy companies in the country’s petroleum sector.

Suriname has produced oil onshore through state-owned Staatsolie for decades. It is now preparing for its first offshore development.

The US$10.5 billion GranMorgu project in Block 58 is expected to begin producing oil in the first half of 2028. The development, operated by TotalEnergies, will target the Sapakara and Krabdagu fields. Its floating production, storage, and offloading vessel will be designed to produce 220,000 barrels per day.

No specific petroleum project or hydrocarbon agreement was announced ahead of Rodríguez’s visit.

The meeting also coincides with 50 years of diplomatic relations between Suriname and Venezuela. According to the Suriname government, the anniversary provides an opportunity to deepen existing ties and pursue sustainable, mutually beneficial cooperation.

Simons and Rodríguez will also discuss economic and technical cooperation and exchange views on shared interests in regional and multilateral forums.

SOURCE