en.Wedoany.com Reported - Malaysia's national oil company Petronas has made its eighth gas discovery in Block 52 offshore Suriname, with estimated resources in the block now exceeding 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent.
This discovery brings Suriname a step closer to becoming a major hydrocarbon producer, potentially alongside neighboring Guyana. After declaring the Sloanea discovery commercially viable in November 2025, Petronas plans to make a final investment decision on the development of Block 52 in 2026.
"The world is looking for reliable gas suppliers, and we believe we are well positioned to play that role," Suriname's Minister of Oil, Gas and Environment Patrick Brunings told Reuters. Brunings added that Suriname's first offshore production is still expected to come online in 2028 through a consortium led by TotalEnergies.
To attract more exploration and development activities, state-owned Staatsolie is conducting an open licensing round covering five offshore blocks with a total area exceeding 70,000 square kilometers.
Petronas is Malaysia's national energy company, with operations spanning upstream, liquefied natural gas, petrochemicals, refining, marketing, and renewable energy. In Suriname, the company is engaged in offshore exploration and development activities.
