Suriname and Guyana will establish a joint technical team to explore natural gas development across their borders, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
The team is expected to be installed as early as March and will assess gas volumes, infrastructure needs and usage options, Suriname’s oil minister Patrick Brunings was cited as saying during the Guyana Energy Conference. Any project emerging from the discussions would be the first cross-border gas development between the two South American nations.
Brunings noted that combining gas resources could enhance investor appeal: “There are some volumes that are not interesting yet (in Guyana), that’s the same for Suriname. But if you combine, the volumes might be more attractive.
While the initial phase excludes oil companies, Suriname intends to consult with TotalEnergies, Chevron and APA on the initiative, the report said. Guyana’s ExxonMobil-led consortium would also need to be involved.
The technical team will aim to sign a memorandum of understanding to advance cooperation.
TotalEnergies, Chevron and APA are among the key international operators in Suriname’s upstream sector. TotalEnergies and APA have made several offshore discoveries in Suriname, while Chevron acquired Suriname interests via its purchase of Hess. In neighbouring Guyana, ExxonMobil operates the Stabroek Block, home to the country’s current oil output.
