Working in oil and gas in Suriname

Oil and gas is the fastest-growing employer of technical people in Suriname, but it is not a mass employer. Most positions are not on the production vessel itself but onshore: in logistics, maintenance, safety, administration and at the many suppliers. To get in you need a few international certificates, which can be obtained in Suriname since 2024, and you apply mainly through EnergyJobs.sr, Staatsolie's job database and the contractors' websites. Below: which jobs really exist, what you need for them and how to spot scams.

On this page (14)

• How many jobs there are, and where
• Roles in demand
• Certificates: what you need
• Where to train in Suriname
• Where vacancies appear
• How recruitment works
• Rotations, pay and tax
• Your contract with a foreign contractor
• Foreigners and the diaspora
• Watch out for fake job offers
• Application tips
• Checklist
• Sources
• Frequently asked questions

How many jobs there are, and where

An oil project needs many people during construction and relatively few during production. The GranMorgu production vessel is being built in Asia and the subsea equipment comes from abroad. What happens in Suriname is the drilling campaign, the logistics from shore, offshore installation and then twenty years or more of operations and maintenance. TotalEnergies says that by the end of 2026 more than 600 positions will be held by Surinamese nationals and that more than 100 local companies already contribute. In October 2026 Minister Brunings reported that almost 70% of the staff at drilling contractor Halliburton are Surinamese.

The often-quoted figure of about 6,000 jobs covers the whole project life and includes indirect jobs (at suppliers) and induced jobs (from workers spending their pay). So do not count on thousands of places offshore. For most people the biggest opportunity is at the companies around the project.

Employer or phase	Type of work	When
GranMorgu drilling campaign (Halliburton and the rig)	Drilling crew, well completion, maintenance, logistics, catering on the rig	First production wells planned from December 2026, offshore installation early 2027; drilling until around 2030
Onshore logistics bases	Port, warehousing, customs, cranes, transport, procurement, security	Now; Kuldipsingh Port Facility is one of the three bases and received the first subsea equipment in September 2026
Production vessel (FPSO), operated by SBM Offshore	Process operators, maintenance technicians, electrical and instrumentation, crane operators, safety, catering	Preparation now, production from 2028; contract for at least two years after first oil, with options
Staatsolie (Saramacca fields, Tout Lui Faut refinery, SPCS power company, GOw2)	Operators, technicians, engineers, HSE, finance, HR, IT, sales	Ongoing; more than 1,100 employees
Exploration in other blocks (Petronas, Chevron, QatarEnergy, TotalEnergies, Shell)	Temporary work around wells and seismic surveys, mainly logistics and services	Per campaign; TotalEnergies plans a new exploration campaign in Block 58 in 2027 and 2028
Suppliers	Construction, workshops, transport, cleaning, waste handling, catering, temporary staffing	Now and throughout production

More on the project: GranMorgu project · Oil and gas

Roles in demand

On 26 October 2026 EnergyJobs.sr listed, among others, an Electrical & Instrumentation Engineer, a Junior Process Engineer, a Technician III, an HR Advisor and a Senior Insurance Coordinator at Staatsolie, an Environmental Technician and a Safety Officer at Tiger Offshore Rentals, and a project control engineer at CCC Group. That mix is typical: besides technicians, the sector needs people for safety, environment, administration and project control.

Role	Typical background	Often required
Process operator	NATIN process technology, ideally with the oil and gas programme; experience in industry or refining	Offshore safety training, medical, shift work
Electrical and instrumentation (E&I) technician	NATIN or PTC electrical engineering; control systems and measurement	Safety training, sometimes work in hazardous areas
Mechanical technician, maintenance	NATIN or PTC mechanical engineering; pumps, compressors, engines	Permit-to-work system, lockout, medical
Crane operator, rigger, banksman	Lifting experience in a port or construction	Rigger and Banksman & Slinger certificates (OPITO)
Welder, fabricator	SAO or NATIN; steel and pipework experience	Welding test to an international code, for example AWS D1.1 or ASME IX
NDT inspector	Technical education plus specialisation in non-destructive testing	Level 1, 2 or 3 under ISO 9712 or ASNT
Supply vessel crew	Maritime training, sea time	STCW certificates (the IMO convention for seafarers)
HSE officer, safety officer	Technical or environmental education plus safety experience	NEBOSH or IOSH, incident investigation experience
Logistics, warehouse, customs	Experience in a port, freight forwarding or clearance	Knowledge of import rules, driving licence, forklift certificate
Catering and housekeeping	Hospitality experience	Hygiene training; offshore also safety training and a medical
Engineer (process, drilling, subsea, reservoir, project control)	Bachelor's or master's, often obtained abroad, plus experience	Working English, experience with an operator or contractor
Office roles (HR, finance, procurement, contracts, IT, insurance)	Higher education, experience in a large company	English, knowledge of compliance and international standards

Certificates: what you need

Anyone going to a rig or production vessel must show basic safety training and a medical certificate. The industry standard comes from OPITO, the international body that sets training standards for oil and gas. A "T" in front of a course name stands for the tropical version, suited to warm water such as off Suriname. Always ask your (future) employer exactly which certificates are needed: requirements differ by operator and role, and the employer often pays for the training.

Certificate	What it is	Validity	In Suriname
(T-)BOSIET with CA-EBS	Basic offshore safety: underwater helicopter escape, sea survival, firefighting, first aid. CA-EBS is a compressed-air emergency breathing system	4 years; the BOSIET takes three days	Yes, Kersten Training Academy
(T-)FOET with CA-EBS	Refresher for holders of a BOSIET	4 years	Yes, Kersten Training Academy
(T-)HUET with CA-EBS	Only the underwater helicopter escape, for people who travel by helicopter but do not need the full BOSIET	Per the OPITO standard	Yes, Kersten Training Academy
Offshore medical (often the OEUK medical)	Examination by an approved doctor: urine, hearing, lung function, vision and colour, blood pressure, BMI	Usually 2 years, shorter with for example high blood pressure. From 1 November 2026 no OEUK certificate above 124 kg (clothed) or a BMI above 40	Ask your employer which medical and which doctor it accepts
OPITO IMIST	Minimum safety knowledge for everyone in the industry: hazards, permits to work, manual handling, hazardous substances	Per the OPITO standard	Yes, Kersten Training Academy
Rigger, Banksman & Slinger	Safe slinging of loads and guiding lifts	With reassessment after the validity period	Yes, Kersten Training Academy (training and assessment)
STCW	International certificates for seafarers, from basic safety to officer and engineer	Per certificate; basic safety must be refreshed periodically	Ask the Maritime Authority Suriname which courses are recognised
NEBOSH or IOSH	British qualifications in occupational safety; asked for HSE roles	Qualification, no expiry	Online or through an accredited provider
NDT under ISO 9712 or ASNT	Competence in ultrasonic, radiographic, magnetic and penetrant testing, levels 1 to 3	Per the standard, with re-examination	Often through the employer abroad
Welding qualification (for example AWS D1.1, ASME IX)	Proof that you weld correctly to a given procedure, after a test piece is examined	Stays valid as long as you use the process regularly	Basics at SAO or NATIN; the qualification through an accredited inspector

Where to train in Suriname

Kersten Training Academy (offshore safety)

Since 13 June 2024 Kersten Training Academy on Sir Winston Churchillweg, plot 203, opposite the Staatsolie refinery, has been OPITO certified. Staatsolie supported its creation so that Surinamese workers no longer have to go abroad for basic offshore safety training. Courses include T-BOSIET, BOSIET, T-FOET, FOET and T-HUET with CA-EBS, IMIST, Rigger and Banksman & Slinger, an introduction to oil and gas, first aid and fire warden. Prices and dates are not on the website; register through the form on kta.kersten.sr or call 587-400 (WhatsApp 873 2232), Monday to Friday 07:00 to 16:00.

NATIN oil and gas programme

The Natural Technical Institute (NATIN), with Staatsolie, runs an 18-month follow-on programme in three parts: a foundation part, the oil and gas part and a work placement. It admits NATIN graduates in process technology, mechanical engineering or electrical-energy engineering, after selection. The first group of 30 started in October 2022; 10 graduated in October 2024. A second group started in February 2024. Staatsolie invested more than a million dollars and also placed 87 NATIN interns in 2025.

PTC, AdeKUS and SAO

Polytechnic College (PTC) offers higher professional programmes in engineering and ICT and runs oil and gas courses with partners. The Faculty of Technology at Anton de Kom University (AdeKUS) trains mechanical and electrical engineers, among others; since August 2026 Staatsolie has been renovating two of its halls. We found no separate university degree in oil and gas. For welding, electrical work and other trades there is SAO. More on training providers: Staff training and internships.

Programmes run by the oil companies

• Vocational education agreement (June 2026). TotalEnergies, Staatsolie and the ministries of Education, of Oil, Gas and Environment, and of Health, Welfare and Labour signed a four-year agreement to align vocational education with the sector: programmes to international standards, better laboratories and training for teachers.
• SURICAP (TotalEnergies). In 2026, 75 teachers from technical schools completed a safety training; a second group of 100 starts in November 2026. Through consortia of companies and schools TotalEnergies says it reaches about 4,000 students, with more than 150 teachers trained and more than 25 companies involved.
• Staatsolie. Internships of three to six months (apply at Stage@staatsolie.com), holiday jobs through schools Staatsolie selects (ages 16 to 21), and scholarships: its 2025 anniversary programme gave 45 scholarships to young people and 7 fully funded scholarships to students from Brokopondo.

Where vacancies appear

Channel	What you find	Tip
EnergyJobs.sr	Neutral job portal for the whole energy sector, launched by TotalEnergies on 27 November 2025: vacancies at TotalEnergies, the main contractors, Staatsolie and other companies, offshore and onshore	Create a profile and filter by location, company and contract type. The portal also targets students and the diaspora
Staatsolie job database	All vacancies at Staatsolie, GOw2 and SPCS	Staatsolie only accepts applications through this database, not by email or on paper. With an account you get alerts for new vacancies
Contractors' careers pages	SBM Offshore (production vessel), Halliburton (drilling), TechnipFMC (subsea), Saipem (pipelines) and their subcontractors	Search for location "Suriname" and only apply through the company's official domain
Staffing and secondment agencies	Temporary work; in October 2026 Staatsolie asked companies to register interest in supplying temporary staff	A proper agency never charges you as a candidate
Our jobs board	Vacancies at Surinamese companies, including suppliers to the sector	Jobs; employers post free through Post a job

How recruitment works

Many people on an oil project are not employed by the oil company itself but by a contractor or a local subcontractor. Your employer is often a different company from the name on the project. The steps are similar everywhere:

1. Profile and application. Through the employer's portal or EnergyJobs.sr. Apply for each vacancy; a profile alone is not an application.
2. Screening. On education, certificates and experience. At Staatsolie you only hear back if your profile fits.
3. One or more interviews. Often partly in English, with questions about safety and teamwork.
4. Assessment. A test or practical task, depending on the role.
5. Medical and drug test. At Staatsolie a medical examination is part of recruitment; offshore work also needs the offshore medical.
6. Certificates. If BOSIET or other training is missing, the employer often arranges it before you start.
7. Contract and induction. Read the contract carefully (see below) and follow the site safety induction.

Rotations, pay and tax

Rotations. Offshore you work in blocks: a number of weeks on board with long shifts, then an equal or longer period at home. Onshore, shift work is normal at the refinery and the production fields. The exact rotation, travel days and who pays for travel belong in your contract.

Pay. There are no published pay scales for the sector in Suriname, and we do not quote figures we cannot back up. Staatsolie says salary is discussed during recruitment and depends on requirements, experience and responsibilities. In general, these factors decide what you earn:

• the role and your certificates (a certified NDT inspector or crane operator is scarcer than a helper);
• offshore or onshore, the rotation and any allowances for offshore work, shifts and overtime;
• the type of employer: operator, international contractor, local company or staffing agency;
• the currency: some employers pay (partly) in US dollars, others in SRD;
• benefits: pension, health cover, insurance, transport and meals.

Tax. Pay for work in Suriname is subject to Surinamese wage tax and AOV contribution, even if your employer is a foreign company. Work out your net pay with Net salary calculator and see the rates on Income tax 2026. Calculate overtime with Overtime calculator.

Your contract with a foreign contractor

Under the Petroleum Act foreign oil companies must have an office in Suriname, and many contractors hire local staff through a Surinamese company or a staffing agency. If you work in Suriname for an employer established in Suriname, Surinamese labour rules apply, such as a probation period of at most two months and the rules on successive fixed-term contracts. See Labour law basics and Dismissal and notice. Check before you sign:

• exactly which company is your employer (name, KKF number) and who pays your wages;
• permanent or fixed-term, the end date and what happens if the project stops or is delayed;
• the rotation, travel days, transport to the base or heliport and who pays for it;
• pay, currency, allowances, overtime and pay dates;
• accident and sickness insurance, including offshore, and what happens to your pay when you are ill;
• who pays for training and medicals, and whether you must repay them if you leave;
• the safety rules: you may stop work that is unsafe ("stop work authority"). More on safety: Workplace safety.

Foreigners and the diaspora

A foreign specialist needs a work permit, which the employer applies for at the ministry responsible for labour. In the oil, gold and timber sectors an application or extension costs USD 500. Holders of a PSA document, returning migrants of Surinamese origin, spouses of Surinamese citizens and CARICOM skilled nationals do not need a work permit. Full procedure: Work and residence permits.

For Surinamese people in the Netherlands or elsewhere with sector experience this is an opportunity: EnergyJobs.sr explicitly targets the diaspora too, and operators want to grow their share of Surinamese staff. With a PSA document you can work without a work permit. See also Doing business from the diaspora and, if you are moving, Living and working in Suriname.

Watch out for fake job offers

Wherever an oil boom starts, scammers appear offering "offshore jobs" for a fee. TotalEnergies warns that it never asks for money or financial details at any stage of recruitment, and that genuine emails from the company end in @totalenergies.com. Staatsolie only accepts applications through its own database. Recognise the signs:

• you must pay a "registration fee", visa, training, medical, ticket or travel agency;
• you are offered a job out of the blue, without an interview or only by chat;
• the email address ends in gmail, outlook or a domain that is slightly off;
• you are asked for bank details or a copy of your passport or ID before a real offer;
• the salary is unrealistically high and there is pressure ("pay today").

If in doubt, look the vacancy up on the company's official website or on EnergyJobs.sr. If you have been defrauded, report it to the police.

Application tips

• Put your certificates at the top, with number and expiry date: BOSIET, medical, trade certificates. Recruiters filter on them.
• Show safety. Mention training, permit-to-work systems you used and how you reported or solved an unsafe situation.
• Be specific about experience: which installations, which equipment, how many years, which shift pattern.
• English. Have a CV in English; the working language on projects is often English.
• References from supervisors who can speak about your skills and reliability.
• Start at a supplier if you have no sector experience yet: logistics, a workshop, security or catering is often the first step to work at a contractor.
• Keep your papers current: an expired BOSIET or medical can cost you an offer.

Checklist

• CV in Dutch and English, with certificates and expiry dates at the top
• Profile on EnergyJobs.sr and an account in Staatsolie's job database, with job alerts on
• Know which certificates the role needs, and whether the employer pays for them
• (T-)BOSIET with CA-EBS and an offshore medical, if you want to work offshore
• Diplomas and references scanned and to hand
• Contract checked for employer, rotation, pay, currency, insurance and training repayment
• Never paid money for an application, visa or training
• Net pay checked with the salary calculator

Read on: Staatsolie · Become an oil and gas supplier · Hiring staff · Oil and gas glossary

Sources

• TotalEnergies EP Suriname: production equipment arrives, 600+ jobs for Surinamese (19 September 2026)
• TotalEnergies EP Suriname: workforce development, SURICAP and EnergyJobs.sr
• TotalEnergies EP Suriname: safety training for 75 teachers (October 2026)
• Key News: TotalEnergies, government and Staatsolie agreement on vocational education (25 June 2026)
• GFC Nieuws: GranMorgu 43%, drilling in December, Halliburton almost 70% Surinamese (23 October 2026)
• SBM Offshore: operations and maintenance contract for FPSO GranMorgu (June 2025)
• EnergyJobs.sr: vacancies (accessed 26 October 2026)
• Staatsolie: careers FAQ
• Staatsolie: careers and job database
• Staatsolie: Sustainability Report 2025 (employees, interns, scholarships)
• Kersten: OPITO-certified training centre opens (June 2024)
• Kersten Training Academy: courses and registration
• Staatsolie: first NATIN oil and gas graduates (November 2024)
• Key News: admission to the NATIN oil and gas programme (September 2022)
• Key News: launch of the oil and gas follow-on programme (October 2022)
• Staatsolie: renovation of AdeKUS Faculty of Technology buildings (August 2026)
• FMTC Safety: OPITO BOSIET, duration and validity
• Vulcan: OEUK offshore medical, validity and weight rules
• OPITO
• Staatsolie: procurement opportunities, including the EOI for temporary labour (October 2026)
• TotalEnergies: fraudulent recruitment warning
• Work permit fee notice (USD 500 in oil, gold and timber)

Checked on 26 October 2026. General information, not career or legal advice. Requirements, courses and vacancies change quickly; check them with the employer or training provider.