Suriname
STATEMENT
BY THE
MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES
OF THE REPUBLIC
OF
SURINAME
HIS EXCELLENCY
DR. GREGORYA. RUSLAND
THE 14TH SESSION OF THE
COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
New York, 11 May 2006
Check against deliveryl
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Suriname to the United Nations
866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 320, New York, NY 10017 Telephone 212-826-0660
fax : 212 980-7029 email: Suriname(i)un. int
Mr. Chairman, Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It's also a pleasure for me to address the 14 th session of the Commission on
sustainable Development. Suriname aligns itself with the statement made by
the representative of South Africa, speaking on behalf of Group of 77 and
China.
The importance of the availability of energy for sustainable development has
been stressed during the past couple of days of our meetings . Therefore, I
would like to concentrate my contribution on the situation in Suriname, a
CARICOM country on the north coast of South America .
In the multi annual year plan 2006-2011 of the Government of Suriname
special attention is paid to the availability of energy as part of our efforts to
realize the MDGs, by 2015 . Reliable energy supply and its affordability are
key issues in this respect. Like most other countries we face the challenge to
provide the government's energy company with a rate that will allow it to
manage the company, but at the same time we have to make energy
affordable to every citizen in Suriname . Special attention is paid to the most
vulnerable groups in our society, including single women with children .
Mr. Chairman,
Suriname has at the moment, the availability of app . 125 MW of energy
which is sufficient for the current demand. However, our goal to increase
production and thus economic development requires a strategy for increased
energy availability. Our estimates are that by 2024 an additional 300 MW
will be needed.
Our goal therefore is towards the expansion of the hydroelectric facilities .
Currently, app . 75 % of our electricity needs is covered through hydropower.
With the expansion we will have an additional reliable source of
energy that will allow us to control the related costs of production and thus
the electricity rates .
An additional challenge for the government is to supply electricity to the
villages of indigenous peoples and maroons in the interior . Our current
method is through the use of diesel generator sets . However, we have started
a project building small hydro electric facilities which will deliver different
benefits in terms of the reliability and the environment.
Also, experiments are being carried out in the area of wind and solar energy
in especially the small villages .
Mr. Chairman,
Suriname has the availability of small reserves of fossil fuels, which are
being exploited by the Staatsolie Company owned by the Government . We
have built a refinery, with a capacity of app . 7,500 barrels per day. Studies
will be finalized by the end of this month for an expansion of the capacity to
app. 12,000 barrels per day . We will then be able to fully supply the current
needs of the population as far as oil products are concerned .
We are also investing in the further exploration of oil by our own company .
A couple of multinationals have production sharing agreements with our
Staatsolie Company for offshore exploration activities . Companies active are
Mearsk, Occidental and Repsol YPF, whereby 3D seismic evaluation will be
done this year and hopefully we will be in the position for evaluations
through drilling by 2007 .
Mr. Chairman,
The Government of Suriname is trying to solve the energy questions before
us in such a way that would enable us to meet the demands for sustainable
development. Our efforts include the responsible use of the environment and
we also pay special consideration to the situation of the local population in
areas of activities . We are convinced that in cooperation with the
international community we will be able to take those decisions that will
enable us to reach the desired goals .
Finally, another matter Mr . Chairman, we would like to inform the
committee that in the past couple of days, the southern part of Suriname has
been struck by extra rain, which resulted in floods, as we have not seen
before. Of the app . 37,000 people living in the area we estimate that 20,000
had to leave their homes . Mitigating this disaster requires a major operation
and we are in the process of acquiring the necessary funding and technical
assistance. We have received support from several organizations and
countries and would like to avail ourselves of this opportunity to express our
gratitude on behalf of the President and the People of Suriname to the United
Nations for their assistance already granted .
Thank you.
BY THE
MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES
OF THE REPUBLIC
OF
SURINAME
HIS EXCELLENCY
DR. GREGORYA. RUSLAND
THE 14TH SESSION OF THE
COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
New York, 11 May 2006
Check against deliveryl
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Suriname to the United Nations
866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 320, New York, NY 10017 Telephone 212-826-0660
fax : 212 980-7029 email: Suriname(i)un. int
Mr. Chairman, Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It's also a pleasure for me to address the 14 th session of the Commission on
sustainable Development. Suriname aligns itself with the statement made by
the representative of South Africa, speaking on behalf of Group of 77 and
China.
The importance of the availability of energy for sustainable development has
been stressed during the past couple of days of our meetings . Therefore, I
would like to concentrate my contribution on the situation in Suriname, a
CARICOM country on the north coast of South America .
In the multi annual year plan 2006-2011 of the Government of Suriname
special attention is paid to the availability of energy as part of our efforts to
realize the MDGs, by 2015 . Reliable energy supply and its affordability are
key issues in this respect. Like most other countries we face the challenge to
provide the government's energy company with a rate that will allow it to
manage the company, but at the same time we have to make energy
affordable to every citizen in Suriname . Special attention is paid to the most
vulnerable groups in our society, including single women with children .
Mr. Chairman,
Suriname has at the moment, the availability of app . 125 MW of energy
which is sufficient for the current demand. However, our goal to increase
production and thus economic development requires a strategy for increased
energy availability. Our estimates are that by 2024 an additional 300 MW
will be needed.
Our goal therefore is towards the expansion of the hydroelectric facilities .
Currently, app . 75 % of our electricity needs is covered through hydropower.
With the expansion we will have an additional reliable source of
energy that will allow us to control the related costs of production and thus
the electricity rates .
An additional challenge for the government is to supply electricity to the
villages of indigenous peoples and maroons in the interior . Our current
method is through the use of diesel generator sets . However, we have started
a project building small hydro electric facilities which will deliver different
benefits in terms of the reliability and the environment.
Also, experiments are being carried out in the area of wind and solar energy
in especially the small villages .
Mr. Chairman,
Suriname has the availability of small reserves of fossil fuels, which are
being exploited by the Staatsolie Company owned by the Government . We
have built a refinery, with a capacity of app . 7,500 barrels per day. Studies
will be finalized by the end of this month for an expansion of the capacity to
app. 12,000 barrels per day . We will then be able to fully supply the current
needs of the population as far as oil products are concerned .
We are also investing in the further exploration of oil by our own company .
A couple of multinationals have production sharing agreements with our
Staatsolie Company for offshore exploration activities . Companies active are
Mearsk, Occidental and Repsol YPF, whereby 3D seismic evaluation will be
done this year and hopefully we will be in the position for evaluations
through drilling by 2007 .
Mr. Chairman,
The Government of Suriname is trying to solve the energy questions before
us in such a way that would enable us to meet the demands for sustainable
development. Our efforts include the responsible use of the environment and
we also pay special consideration to the situation of the local population in
areas of activities . We are convinced that in cooperation with the
international community we will be able to take those decisions that will
enable us to reach the desired goals .
Finally, another matter Mr . Chairman, we would like to inform the
committee that in the past couple of days, the southern part of Suriname has
been struck by extra rain, which resulted in floods, as we have not seen
before. Of the app . 37,000 people living in the area we estimate that 20,000
had to leave their homes . Mitigating this disaster requires a major operation
and we are in the process of acquiring the necessary funding and technical
assistance. We have received support from several organizations and
countries and would like to avail ourselves of this opportunity to express our
gratitude on behalf of the President and the People of Suriname to the United
Nations for their assistance already granted .
Thank you.
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