On April 25, local time, Suriname’s Vice-President Ronnie Brunswijk, accompanied by Minister of Natural Resources David Abiamofo, attended the inauguration and lighting ceremony of the Botopasi Microgrid Project, developed by Chinese state-owned enterprise POWERCHINA. The project marks a significant milestone in the second phase of the Suriname Village Microgrid Solar Project, which aims to bring clean, reliable energy to remote forest villages through integrated solar, storage, and diesel-based microgrid systems.
Brunswijk commended the project team for their resilience and dedication in overcoming challenging environmental conditions to efficiently deliver a high-quality result. He expressed optimism that the team would continue to capitalize on their strengths to complete the remaining construction tasks on schedule.
The second phase of the Suriname Village Microgrid Solar Project spans the Suriname and Marowijne Rivers in Saramacca province. This off-grid microgrid project integrates solar power, energy storage, and diesel generation, covering 45 forest villages.
It features a solar capacity of 5.349 MW, energy storage of 18.6 MWh, and diesel generator capacity totaling 2.813 MVA. The project is expected to generate 8,780 MWh of electricity annually. Since its inception, the project has undergone three contract signings and amendments, encompassing nine sites in total.
The Botopasi Microgrid Project is the second site completed under this phase. It includes a solar capacity of 1,020 kW, energy storage of 2,580 kWh, and a diesel generator capacity of 800 KVA, with an annual electricity output of 1,600 MWh.
The project will provide continuous, reliable electricity to 11 forest villages, significantly enhancing the quality of life for local residents and establishing a robust energy foundation for social development.
