Diplomatic World_69

H.E. GILBERT VAN LIEROP
AMBASSADOR OF SURINAME
TO THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM
AND THE EUROPEAN UNION
AMBASSADOR VAN LIEROP, WELCOME TO
BRUSSELS. COULD YOU GIVE US YOUR FIRST
IMPRESSIONS ABOUT YOUR STAY HERE AND
BROADLY OUTLINE THE PRIORITIES YOU WILL
PURSUE DURING YOUR TENURE HERE?
It is truly a great honour to serve as the Ambassador of the
Republic of Suriname to the Kingdom of Belgium. The Republic
of Suriname has strong historical ties with Belgium, since our
independence from the Netherlands in 1975. I appreciate the rich
culture and history in terms of art, cuisine, language and architecture
that Belgium has to offer. Belgium is a beautiful country
and Brussels a historic city, with nice and warm people.
It is important for me that we build on our shared values and
on the already established foundation, to extend the existing
partnership and cultivate the strong relationship between the
citizens of our countries, for the mutual benefit of our peoples.
My priorities are to create meaningful strategic partnerships
between organizations and people in Belgium and in Suriname.
To strengthen the relationship with the European Union and
Belgium, through a diverse focus, ranging from sustainability,
trade, education, healthcare and knowledge sharing. To facilitate
capacity building, in production sectors like forestry, mining,
energy and agriculture.
Finding a balance between nature conservation
and preservation of economic development
is of utmost importance
SURINAME TAKES THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE
CHANGE SERIOUSLY, BEING ONE OF THE MOST
FORESTED COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD AND ONLY
ONE OF THREE COUNTRIES THAT IS CARBON
NEGATIVE. WHAT ARE SURINAME’S AMBITIONS
TO CONTINUE BEING IN THE FOREFRONT OF THE
FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE? WHAT ARE
THE TARGETS TO INCREASE THE USE OF
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES?
Many consider Suriname’s vast and ancient rainforests, to be
one of the world’s best-kept natural secrets, one of the last tropical
frontiers. Relative to its land area, the annual rate of total gold
production ensures that Suriname ranks in the top producers of
gold in the world.
With 93 percent forest cover, the Republic of Suriname is the
most forested country in the world. Suriname is a High Forest
cover, Low Deforestation country (HFLD) and is one of only three
carbon negative countries in the world. Our rainforest has a vast
ecosystem and rich biodiversity and we wish to maintain this
unique green image.
To preserve Suriname’s abundant rainforest the Central Suriname
nature reserve was created. In the 1.6 million acres area of the
nature reserve, more than 5,000 different plant species, many
tropical animals, insects and around 400 different types of birds
are protected. The rainforest is so unexplored and so remote
that in 2007, 24 new species where found in the highlands of
Suriname, one of which was a purple fluorescent frog.
Climate is always changing, but it is clear that the impact of
man-made climate change has a negative effect on the ecosystem
and our capacity to coexist with nature. That is why we will
further the advocacy in terms of access to climate finance for the
HFLD countries, who are providing an immeasurable service to
humanity by preserving their natural forests.
Nevertheless, as a low-lying coastal state, Suriname is prone
to sea level rise. The government of Suriname is aware of the
variability of climate change and its potential impact on the population.
Therefore, Suriname takes a forefront position in the fight
against climate change and is advocating the use its forests to
trade carbon credits to industrialized countries.
It is very important that the green countries in the world receive
assistance to maintain their green identity. To keep what is actually
green, green. If we really want to achieve the Sustainable
Development Goals, as set forth in the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, international climate finance,
echnology, knowledge transfer and capacity building is much
needed to support the transition from a commodity-based
economy, towards a climate resilience society.
Our goal is sustainability, but we should not forget that economic
security is an unavoidable steppingstone to reach that result.
SIGNIFICANT OIL AND GAS DISCOVERIES HAVE
BEEN MADE OFF THE COAST OF SURINAME
IN RECENT YEARS. HOW CAN THE REVENUES
DERIVED FROM THEIR EXPLOITATION FORM THE
BASIS FOR SURINAME’S SUSTAINABLE AND
INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT?
In charting the way towards a sustainable renewable energy future,
important and fundamental decisions in the areas of energy
education, renewable energy, local content development and
strategic energy cooperation have to be taken. Finding a balance
between nature conservation and preservation of economic
development is therefore of utmost importance.
Suriname is at a historic crossroad, we have a special responsibility
in building a sustainable energy future while also mitigation
of the harmful impacts of the mining and oil-gas industry.
Suriname’s state-owned oil company, Staatsolie Maatschappij
Suriname, will play an important role in the production of oil and
gas and the supply of energy, so we can meet the growing needs
of our society.
Staatsolie N.V was founded in 1980 and made their first offshore
discovery at a well called Maka Central-1 in 2020. Staatsolie estimates
are that this first discovery contains 1.4 trillion cubic feet
of gas. Since then, we have discovered over five billion barrels
of oil and significant more amounts of gas in Suriname’s offshore
basin.
Off the coast of Suriname there are an estimated thirty billion
barrels of oil that can be exploited.
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