Residents of 10 rural communities in Suriname are set to benefit from a multi-million-dollar electrification project funded by the Barbados-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Development Fund (CDF).
The US$11.8 million initiative aims to install hybrid renewable micro-grid systems in Cajana and Galibi as part of a broader effort to improve energy access and support a just energy transition in Suriname’s rural communities. The project is financed through a US$10.01 million concessionary loan and a US$0.49 million grant from the CDF, alongside a US$1.3 million in-kind contribution from the Suriname government.
The project began with the signing of the loan and grant agreements on April 24, 2024, and is slated for an 18-month implementation period. A CDF delegation, led by CEO Rodinald Soomer, visited Suriname and confirmed that installation of the micro-grids is over 90 per cent complete, with full commissioning expected before the end of 2025.
“These micro grids will provide reliable, clean, and sustainable electricity to 1,906 residents in 10 rural communities of the Cajana and Galibi regions; and the completion of this project will mark a significant milestone in Suriname’s pursuit of inclusive and resilient growth,” the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat said in a statement.
During his visit to Paramaribo, Soomer held talks with President Jennifer Greelings-Simons on “opportunities for increasing CDF’s support to the implementation of Suriname’s economic diversification and sustainable growth agenda.”
The Secretariat added that discussions included “leveraging the CDF’s experience in increasing youth and community participation in the inclusive growth of the agriculture and tourism sectors.”
