Patricia Pradal, president of Chevron South America Exploration, paid a courtesy visit to President Jennifer Simons at the Office of the President on Thursday, June 25, 2026. During the meeting, she presented her credentials to the head of state and provided an overview of Chevron’s activities in Suriname.
According to Pradal, Chevron, a subsidiary of the American multinational Chevron Corporation, has been operating in Suriname for about twenty years. The company currently manages five projects in the country. During the meeting with President Simons, the discussion focused primarily on Chevron’s involvement in social investment projects.
Education is a key component of this. Among other things, Chevron supports projects with the Institute of Natural Sciences (NATIN) in the field of vocational and technical education. The company also sponsors master’s programs in petroleum geosciences at Anton de Kom University of Suriname. Pradal emphasized the importance of education for young people, not only in Suriname but also throughout the rest of South America.
The Chevron executive also spoke positively about the Suriname Energy, Oil & Gas Summit & Exhibition (SEOGS 2026). According to her, the conference has grown into an important international platform where players from the oil and gas sector from various parts of the world come together, including Indonesia, China, and Europe.
Pradal stated that Chevron is committed to greater regional cooperation. This involves exploring synergies between countries such as Brazil, the United States, and Guyana in order to better capitalize on opportunities within the region.
Pradal remained realistic about Chevron’s current results in the Surinamese oil and gas sector. According to her, the results so far have not been as successful as hoped. Nevertheless, the company remains confident in the potential of Suriname and the region.
“I think Suriname is on the right track to achieve greater things. And we hope for the success of Suriname and its people. Oil and gas are not something you can be certain about, but we will continue to invest,” said Pradal.
