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Suriname Sets Stage for International Investments in Bauxite Reserves

Bakhuis Mountains Development: Suriname’s Strategic Move Towards Economic Prosperity

Suriname Sets Stage for International Investments in Bauxite Reserves

In a strategic move to harness the untapped potential of the Bakhuis Mountains in western Suriname, the Government, under the leadership of President Chadrikapersad Santokhi, has greenlit the “Presidential Commission West-Suriname Bakhuis Development.” This ambitious initiative revives the decades-old West Suriname Plan, originally conceptualized in the 1970s, which encompasses the mining of bauxite in the Bakhuis Mountains, the construction of a hydroelectric power plant on the Kabalebo River, and the establishment of a harbor and an aluminum smelter at Apoera.

The historical journey of the West Suriname Plan reveals its complex trajectory. In 1963, Operation Grasshopper discovered significant bauxite deposits in the Bakhuis Mountains. Subsequent explorations by Suralco and Billiton solidified the region’s potential, leading to the government’s intervention when a commercial joint venture fell short of expectations. Despite initial progress, political upheavals in 1980, coupled with low bauxite market prices in the 1980s, brought the project to a standstill.

The plan experienced a resurgence in the late 1990s, with BHP Billiton, Suralco, and the Surinamese government signing memoranda of understanding in 2003 to explore bauxite mining possibilities. However, talks between the Surinamese government and BHP Billiton hit a roadblock in October 2008.

The recent revival under President Santokhi’s administration signals a renewed commitment to unlocking the economic potential of the Bakhuis region. The Presidential Commission, established in the second quarter of 2023, is diligently collecting data on bauxite deposits, hydroelectric potential, and infrastructure to attract investors.

To comprehend the significance of this initiative, one must delve into the geological wealth beneath the Bakhuis Mountains. Suriname has been a global bauxite and alumina producer for over 90 years, with lateritic bauxite deposits distributed in distinct regions. The Bakhuis district, situated in the Plateau, is a focal point for the West Suriname Plan. The Bakhuis Mountains, a chain of dissected plateaus in the Sipaliwini district, cover approximately 2400 kmยฒ and boast a wealth of high-grade metamorphic rocks, including banded granulites and sillimanite gneisses.

The bauxite resources beneath the Bakhuis Mountains are estimated to exceed 500 Mt, with an average of 34% available alumina and 2% reactive silica. The variable compositions of bauxite weathering profiles reflect the diverse parent rocks, contributing to the variable thicknesses of the bauxite body.

As Suriname endeavors to attract investors for the Bakhuis Project, interest has been expressed by companies in Switzerland, China and from the Middle East, signaling potential international collaboration. The government’s determination to overcome historical setbacks and tap into this geological treasure trove represents a pivotal moment in Suriname’s economic history. The success of the Presidential Commission’s efforts could not only boost Suriname’s economy but also open new doors for international partnerships and sustainable development in the western region. The world watches with anticipation as Suriname embarks on this journey to unveil the riches beneath the Bakhuis Mountains.

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The Kabalebo Dam project, a key component of the original West Suriname Plan, is marked on the CIA World Factbook map. The plan envisioned not only economic development but also environmental sustainability through the construction of a hydroelectric power plant on the Kabalebo River.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Suriname_Plan

Date: 20 December 2023

Categories:   

Tags:  Bakhuis, Bakhuis Mountains, Bakhuis Project, Economic Development, Geopolitical Economy, Hydroelectric Power, Natural Resources, Presidential Commission, West-Suriname, West-Suriname Plan 

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