Doing business in Brokopondo
Brokopondo lies in the interior south of Para. The capital is Brokopondo. The district is known for the reservoir and the dam at Afobaka, which supplies a large share of the country's electricity, and for gold mining. In 2012 it had 15,909 inhabitants.
On this page (8)
- Economy: Hydropower (Afobaka), gold (Rosebel and small-scale), tourism.
- Local licences: the district commissioner (food and drink, events, street stalls, Nuisance Act).
- National: KKF registration, FIN tax number and taxes; the rules are the same everywhere in Suriname.
- Figures: census 2012 (ABS), the latest official count.
Economy and employers
The hydroelectric plant at Afobaka (189 MW) has been owned by Staatsolie since 1 January 2020 and is run by its subsidiary SPCS. The Rosebel gold mine lies about 80 km south of Paramaribo in Brokopondo and Sipaliwini; Zijin Mining has owned it since 1 February 2023. There is also a lot of small-scale gold mining. Tourism around the reservoir and in Brownsberg Nature Park (12,250 ha, since 1969) is a second pillar. Large-scale farming is hard; mainly maize, peanuts and pineapple are grown.
Access and infrastructure
The Afobaka road (1960) links the reservoir area with Paramaribo. Power from Afobaka feeds the EBS grid.
Opportunities for business
- Tourism around the reservoir and Brownsberg: lodges, boat trips, guides, transport from the city.
- Services for mining: transport, maintenance, food, housing.
- Services for small-scale gold miners within the rules: parts, fuel, licensed buying.
- Local food for mining camps and tourists.
These are possibilities that fit the district economy, not a promise of customers. Test an idea first with conversations and numbers. Writing a business plan
Practical: where to arrange what
Local licences: district commissioner's office Brokopondo. Gold concessions: Geological Mining Service (GMD). KKF registration and tax matters are handled in Paramaribo. Many villages have traditional authorities (granman, kapitein): make arrangements with the village leadership before you start in a village area.
The district commissioner's forms, fees and processing times are not published centrally. Check them with the office before you rent or invest. How district government works: Business by district.
Ressorts
Brokopondo is divided into 6 ressorts:
- Brokopondo Centrum
- Brownsweg
- Klaaskreek
- Kwakoegron
- Marchallkreek
- Sarakreek
Guides that help next
- Start a business
- Business licences
- Buying land and property
- Business financing
- Hiring staff
- Tenders
- Gold and oil price
Other districts
- Paramaribo
- Wanica
- Nickerie
- Coronie
- Saramacca
- Commewijne
- Marowijne
- Para
- Sipaliwini
- Compare all districts
Sources
- ABS: Definitieve resultaten Census 8, bevolking en oppervlakte per district
- City Population: districten en ressorten met censuscijfers van het ABS
- Staatsolie: SPCS (Tout Lui Faut en Afobaka)
- Rosebel Gold Mines
- Brokopondo District (Wikipedia)
Population and area: ABS (General Bureau of Statistics), Eighth Census 2012 (final results). The ninth census has been carried out, but ABS has not published results yet; the current population is likely different.
Checked on 26 October 2026. General information, not legal advice.