PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC—The Suriname government is considering a proposal to establish a large-scale solar energy project following a presentation on Monday by Dubai-based Alpha Power Tech NV.
Alpha Power Tech proposes the construction of a 350-megawatt solar park, with 40 megawatts of the total capacity being supplied directly to the EBS network in Paramaribo and the remaining 310 megawatts stored in advanced batteries.
“These batteries reportedly last three times longer than conventional lithium batteries, meaning significant cost savings. The fact that the company wants to bear the investments and only sell the electricity is also attractive,” said energy consultant Samuel Mehairjan.
Chief executive officer Bhupendra Singh Mahal and technical director Rajesh Maloo said that the company wants to invest substantially in Suriname’s energy infrastructure. While President Chandrikapersad Santokhi has shown interest, he has nonetheless indicated that a thorough evaluation is necessary.
He told the ceremony that investments must be reliable and sustainable. He instructed his energy experts to carefully assess the technology and the company before deciding whether the government would sign a memorandum of understanding (Mo) with Alpha Power Tech.
During Monday’s presentation, it was disclosed that solar energy costs will be significantly lower, between US$0.06 and US$0.08 per kilowatt hour, compared to the current US$0.14 to US$0.16 per kilowatt hour for thermal generation.
In addition to the large-scale project in Paramaribo, Alpha Power Tech also proposed a pilot project in the Nickerie district, which will continuously generate five to six megawatts of energy.
Mehairjan also pointed out the potential environmental benefits of the project.
“The transition to solar energy will significantly reduce CO2 emissions, which is an important step towards a greener future for Suriname,” he said.
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