Sociologist and community development specialist Soulamy Laurens experiences a slight sense of déjà vu when she hears that Suriname wants to do business with the bauxite company Chinalco. The government envisions an integrated industry, meaning that a mine, refinery, and eventually an aluminium smelter are desirable. A similar type of industrial development was the reason for building the Brokopondo reservoir with the Afobaka power station in 1964. Thanks to this power station, Suriname can utilise an average of 115 megawatts (MW) of green electricity, but Laurens’ ancestors were forced to relocate and were only able to benefit from this electricity after a long period.
Energy expert Peter Donk understands the sentiment but highlights the significant advantage of having the power station. “The development we have been able to experience as a country for years is, of course, due to the green electricity made possible by the power station. As a result, Suriname has one of the lowest electricity rates in the region.”
“I prefer to say the Kabalebo area because it is relatively uninhabited. Most of the indigenous villages are on the lower reaches of the Corantijn River.” — Energy expert Peter Donk
The American aluminium producer Alcoa began mining bauxite under the name Bauxite Company Suriname (BMS) in 1916. Later, alumina was produced from it. Suriname gained global recognition as 25 per cent of the alumina used to manufacture aluminium for aeroplanes in World War II came from Suriname. In 1957, plans were made for an aluminium smelter, and upon signing that agreement, BMS became the Suriname Aluminium Company (Suralco).
The smelter required a substantial amount of electricity, which led to the construction of the Brokopondo reservoir and power station in 1964. The mass displacement of approximately five thousand people due to the reservoir’s creation still makes individuals like Laurens wary of a potential second reservoir and power station, now in the Kabalebo area. “But you can hardly stop investments. The local people must ensure that their interests are safeguarded when such a project is implemented,” she asserts, convinced that the people “will not allow themselves to be walked over.”
Chinalco
The government’s seriousness about establishing a project involving a bauxite mine, refinery, and smelter became evident on Independence Day, 25 November, with the signing of a letter of intent with Chinalco to extract bauxite in the Bakhuys area.
When the high-quality bauxite deposits in the mines were depleted in 2014, Suralco also intended to exploit the lower-quality bauxite from the Bakhuys area. Studies had been conducted on the bauxite deposits, and projections were made to establish an aluminium smelter and construct an associated dam. This preliminary work formed the basis for investment opportunities in the area, to which Chinalco, among others, responded.
Donk supports investing in a power station and a reservoir in the Bakhuys area, similar to Brokopondo. However, as experts often say, “you do not simply generate electricity.”
The arrival of Chinalco would, therefore, be a valid reason to make that investment. The condition is that this investor must add value to bauxite as a raw material, eventually leading to aluminium production, which demands substantial energy. Donk states, “To truly transition to completely green energy, constructing a dam with a power station is an option.”
One option, he notes, is that in an ideal scenario, Suriname could implement an energy mix to fully transition from polluting to green energy. The 2023 study Climate-Combined Energy Modelling Approach for Power System Planning Towards Optimised Integration of Renewables Under Potential Climate Change – The Small Island Developing State Perspective, for which Donk is the primary researcher, examines a hybrid system.
Hybrid System
A hydro-supported wind strategy is a system in which energy obtained from wind and hydropower complement each other. The average electricity demand of Paramaribo and surrounding districts is 250 MW, with an average of 115 MW supplied by the Brokopondo power station. Wind energy could account for 20 to 30 per cent of this energy gap under current climatological conditions. Increasing hydropower contributions could make the country almost entirely reliant on green energy. “Households could be encouraged to install solar panels where there is no power supply. That will become attractive when the prices of the necessary materials decrease,” Donk says.
A hybrid system integrating hydro and wind energy could also address the limitations of hydropower due to climate change. Currently, Suriname meets 50 per cent of its energy needs with green energy, a notable distinction from other Caribbean nations. However, increasingly frequent and severe droughts often lower the reservoir’s water levels, reducing generating capacity to just 90 MW at times. This increases dependency on polluting electricity generated by diesel engines.
The country should explore new alternatives to mitigate the effects of climate change while expanding green energy use. Donk’s research indicates that during drought periods, there is often more wind. “Suriname has a wind season from late December to April, characterised by relatively less rainfall. During this period, wind energy can supplement supply while reducing reliance on hydropower.”
According to Donk, studies by the Inter-American Development Bank indicate that wind farms could be established at five locations: Adjoema Hill in Moengo, VCM in Commewijne, Staatsolie and the Defence site in Boskamp (both in Saramacca), and the EBS site in the Clarapolder in Nickerie. “Now, the priority is to initiate a pilot project and conduct thorough simulations to verify theoretical models. Monitoring would help identify patterns and achieve balance.”
More Hydro
In addition to wind, Donk’s study highlights that expanding hydropower is crucial for realising an ideal hybrid model. He considers the Kabalebo project a viable option for increasing generation capacity. Projections suggest that a reservoir in the Kabalebo area would span 1,560 square kilometres and generate between 450 and 650 MW under optimal water conditions.
Donk acknowledges environmental activists’ concerns and the potential loss of unique biodiversity but emphasises, “We must make a choice; we need the energy. If approached strategically, this generation capacity should support Suriname’s industrial development and future plans. Chinalco’s investment should complement these efforts rather than being the sole driver. Deforestation and the construction of the Kabalebo dam would affect approximately 1 to 1.5 per cent of our forest.”
Tapajai Project
While Donk advocates for Kabalebo, other researchers favour the Tapajai project, which has been under discussion since 2000. Although it may seem like a distant prospect, studies by Suralco, exploring ways to expand the Brokopondo reservoir’s generating capacity, indicate significant advantages.
Civil engineering expert Lothar Boksteen has been promoting this project for years. The 2009 Suralco study Substudy Impact Increasing Available Water Quantity in the Existing Brokopondo Reservoir outlines the project’s core principles.
Water would be diverted from the Tapanahoni River to the Suriname River via the Jaikreek. Five power stations would be constructed upstream of the Brokopondo reservoir, with an additional station at the reservoir itself. During the rainy season, when water from the Tapanahoni is diverted, the upstream stations would generate electricity, conserving water in the Brokopondo reservoir for dry seasons. This would result in a total installed capacity of 305 MW without increasing the reservoir’s surface area, ensuring more efficient use of its volume.
Danny Lachman, Director of the Planning Bureau and head of the presidential commission negotiating with Chinalco, also supports an energy mix but prefers Tapajai. “Not just for the energy benefits but for regional development. The changing climate has made river transport unpredictable, increasing the cost of essential supplies. The Tapajai project would necessitate infrastructure development, boosting tourism and local economies.”
According to Lachman, it is not certain that Chinalco will establish a smelter at the bauxite mine. “We could compel them, but no feasibility study has been conducted yet.”
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This story was originally published by DWT Online, with support from the Caribbean Energy Transition Media Mentorship, by Climate Tracker Caribbean.
