Suriname: The Next Big Oil Player?
The Republic of Suriname might become South America’s newest energy power. In November American Apache and French Total discovered significant oil deposits offshore. The maritime geology was similar to that for neighboring Guyana, which has profited greatly from its energy sales. For such a small state the expected energy windfall could be substantial. However, the impact of such a development on America will be modest. And not necessarily positive—for Washington, at least.
Still, even though that nation’s new energy potential seems to implicate almost all of today’s big issues, Suriname matters little in international affairs. Who will be the principal beneficiary of nature’s newly discovered bounty? It may take years to discover the answer.
Doug Bandow is a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute. He is a former Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan and author of several books, including and Foreign Follies: America’s New Global Empire.