According to the Energy Authority Suriname, Suriname faces a shortage of generating capacity of 60 to 80 megawatts. Director Anand Kalpoe warns that swift investment decisions are needed, as new production capacity may not become available for another one to two years.
Suriname is in an energy crisis, according to Anand Kalpoe, director of the Energy Authority Suriname (EAS). The power shortage in Suriname is currently estimated at around 60 to 80 megawatts. This means that available generating capacity is insufficient to fully meet growing electricity demand during peak periods.
Kalpoe told Radio ABC that peak load was still around 230 to 240 megawatts last year. This year, peak demand is expected to be approximately 280 megawatts. The increase is putting greater pressure on the electricity system, especially when part of normal generation is unavailable.
That pressure may increase further during the dry season. Hydropower output may decline when water levels fall, while households and businesses use more electricity for cooling, among other purposes. This widens the gap between available capacity and actual demand.
Years of delays worsen Suriname’s power shortage
According to Kalpoe, the problem did not emerge suddenly. The EAS director says too little has been invested for years in expanding electricity generation. The last expansion of generating capacity reportedly took place around 2020, while demand for electricity has continued to grow since then.
Several developments are contributing to this. Electricity consumption by households and businesses is increasing, while Suriname must also take future economic growth into account. Developments in the oil and gas sector could also eventually lead to greater demand for reliable electricity and additional generating capacity.
New power capacity not quickly available
According to Kalpoe, the Energy Authority Suriname has been drawing attention for some time to the need for forward planning. The authority has prepared a long-term strategic vision, along with plans for investments in the coming years. The components of the Electricity Sector Plan have been published on the website of the Energy Authority Suriname.
Key News previously reported that the EAS believes the Electricity Sector Plan should be linked to concrete investments, clear responsibilities and enforceable standards. According to the authority, energy conservation can provide temporary relief during a crisis, but cannot resolve a structural shortage of generating capacity. Read also: Electricity Sector Plan must protect Suriname against a new power crisis.
Suriname must make decisions now to prevent new power shortages in one or two years.
Investments must be prepared now
The government previously asked EBS and Staatsolie to develop options for expanding electricity generation. These include solar panels and additional thermal generation. However, Kalpoe stresses that even if decisions are made now, new capacity will not be available immediately.
According to him, a period of at least one to two years must be taken into account before new installations can actually supply electricity. This means that Suriname will remain vulnerable in the meantime to shortages, technical outages, lower hydropower production and unexpectedly high electricity demand.
Temporary solutions entail high costs
One temporary option is to rent additional generating capacity. According to Kalpoe, such emergency solutions can help cover the shortage for a certain period, but entail high costs. Moreover, they do not solve the underlying problem of insufficient structural generating capacity.
The discussion about the power shortage in Suriname comes at a time when EBS is once again facing heavy pressure on electricity supply. Load shedding, in which areas are alternately disconnected from the power grid, has therefore once again raised concerns among households and entrepreneurs.
Better communication on load shedding needed
Kalpoe believes communication about load shedding needs to improve. A published outage schedule in advance can help households and businesses prepare for power interruptions. Entrepreneurs can plan their activities more effectively, and families can take into account periods when electricity may not be available.
At the same time, the EAS director warns that an outage schedule cannot always be followed exactly. The load on the electricity grid can change unexpectedly, requiring faster or different intervention at certain times to keep the system stable.
Use less electricity during peak hours
For the short term, Kalpoe asks households and businesses to use less electricity during the busiest hours wherever possible. This applies especially around midday and between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Lower consumption during these periods can temporarily ease pressure on the system.
However, according to the EAS, the appeal does not change the need to make structural decisions. Without an expansion of generating capacity, the risk remains that Suriname will once again face load shedding in the event of strong demand growth, dry periods or technical problems.
The forthcoming decisions on investments, energy sources and implementation of the Electricity Sector Plan will therefore be decisive for the reliability of electricity supply. Kalpoe primarily wants to prevent the country from facing the same problems again in a few years. “Let us make sure this does not happen again,” the EAS director said.
