In 2023, fossil fuels supplied about 57% of Suriname’s electricity, while low-carbon sources provided the remaining 43%. Hydropower dominated clean electricity production, accounting for about 42% of all electricity, with other low-carbon sources contributing less than 1%. Suriname therefore already has a substantial clean electricity foundation, but fossil fuels still supply more than half of its electricity.

Is Electricity Growing in Suriname?

Suriname’s electricity consumption per person remains well below its historical peak. In 2023, consumption was about 3,400 kWh per person, roughly 890 kWh—or 21%—below the record of about 4,300 kWh set in 1993. Low-carbon electricity generation per person has fallen even further: its latest level of about 1,460 kWh was roughly 2,110 kWh, or 59%, below the 1993 record. These comparisons do not establish the latest year-to-year trend, but they show a concerning long-term shortfall, especially in clean electricity, when greater supply is needed to support electrification and future demand.

Suggestions

Suriname can build on its hydropower foundation by expanding solar electricity and assessing suitable wind and nuclear options. Regional examples offer useful lessons: Brazil generates about 11% of its electricity from solar and 14% from wind, while Uruguay obtains about a third from wind. Chile’s solar share of almost a quarter also demonstrates solar’s potential in South America. Suriname could learn from these places about procurement, grid integration and attracting investment in clean generation. Nuclear should also be considered through long-term planning and regional cooperation: France generates about two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear, and the US state of South Carolina generates just over half. Together, solar, suitable wind projects and consideration of nuclear could help increase clean electricity supply while reducing fossil-fuel dependence, climate emissions and air pollution.

History

Suriname’s recorded low-carbon electricity history is marked by fluctuations in hydropower rather than sustained expansion. In the 1980s, increases of 0.3 TWh in 1982 and 0.2 TWh in 1985 were interrupted by several declines, including a 0.5 TWh fall in 1987. Generation then rebounded by 0.2 TWh in 1988 and 0.6 TWh in 1989. The listed changes in the 1990s balanced a 0.2 TWh increase in 1991 against an equal decline in 1995. After falls in 2000 and 2005, successive gains during 2006–2008 added 0.5 TWh. Further setbacks in 2010–2014 totaled 0.8 TWh across the listed years, followed by a partial recovery of 0.4 TWh in 2016–2017. This uneven record reinforces the case for expanding and diversifying Suriname’s low-carbon electricity supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade