Press release
Paramaribo, April 23 2026
TotalEnergies EP Suriname B.V., in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, the Ministry of Oil, Gas and Environment, and Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname N.V., has launched the Safety Awareness Training Program for vocational school teachers in Suriname, marking a preliminary step in the implementation of its Local Content Program – Educational Initiatives pillar.
The initiative aims to strengthen safety awareness within technical and vocational education, ensuring that future professionals are introduced to essential safety principles at an early stage of their schools’ practical activities. This approach supports the long-term preparation of a skilled and safety-conscious workforce, aligned with the standards required by the energy and industrial sectors.
The Safety Awareness training is delivered through a multi-module program, with activities taking place over the coming months as part of a structured “train-the-trainers” implementation approach. Implemented through the TotalEnergies Professional Academy (TPA), the program is expected to train around 100 vocational school teachers across Suriname in 2026, contributing to the integration of safety awareness principles within technical education.
The initiative underscores the importance of safety awareness and education in supporting the development of Suriname’s technical workforce.
“Safety is a core value for TotalEnergies and a key pillar of the energy industry. Initiatives like the Safety Awareness Training Program contribute to strengthening safety awareness in vocational education and to supporting the long-term development of Suriname’s technical workforce, including for projects such as GranMorgu,”
stated Artur Nunes da Silva, General Manager of TotalEnergies EP Suriname B.V.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture emphasized the importance of integrating safety principles into vocational training.
“Strengthening safety awareness among teachers contributes directly to the quality and relevance of technical education and supports the preparation of students for professional environments where safety standards are essential. It supports also safety of workplace bearing in mind that training in the practical areas should also be safe.”
The Ministry of Oil, Gas and Environment highlighted the relevance of early safety education for workforce preparedness.
“Building safety awareness from the education phase supports the development of a workforce aligned with the standards required in the energy sector and contributes to Suriname’s long-term capacity building,”
noted H.E. Patrick Loys Brunings, Minister of Oil, Gas and Environment of the Republic of Suriname.
For Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname N.V. Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) plays a key role in workforce development.
“At Staatsolie, HSE is fundamental and is the first aspect we consider, even before production and costs. There is no success if it involves serious incidents. Embedding this mindset in our vocational schools is essential to prepare Surinamese talent for the industry. We therefore welcome this initiative as an important step in strengthening local content,”
said Annand Jagesar, Managing Director of Staatsolie.
This initiative further reinforces TotalEnergies EP Suriname’s commitment to supporting education, safety and workforce development in close cooperation with national authorities, as part of its Local Content Program.