Petronas has made its eighth gas discovery in Suriname’s offshore Block 52, bringing the estimated resources held in the block to more than 1 billion boe, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
The latest discovery strengthens Suriname’s ambitions to become a major hydrocarbons producer alongside neighbouring Guyana. Having declared the Sloanea discovery commercially viable in November 2025, Petronas is expected to make a final investment decision in 2026 on the development of Block 52.
“The whole world is now looking for reliable gas suppliers, and we believe we can play that role very well,” Suriname’s Minister of Oil, Gas and Environment, Patrick Brunings, told Reuters. Brunings added that Suriname’s first offshore production remains on track for 2028 through a consortium led by TotalEnergies,
State-run energy company Staatsolie is conducting an open-door licensing round covering more than 70,000 square kilometres across five offshore sectors to attract additional exploration and development activity.
Petronas is Malaysia’s national energy company with operations spanning upstream, LNG, petrochemicals, refining, marketing and renewable energy. In Suriname, the company engages in offshore exploration and development.