IGF Mining Policy Framework Assessment: Suriname

This report assesses Suriname's readiness to implement the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) Mining Policy Framework (MPF). Conducted between August and November 2016, the assessment identifies a legislative environment that is largely out of date, relying on a 1986 Mining Decree, and notes a critical lack of a national environmental authority. While the report highlights strengths in environmental assessment guidelines and the management of small-scale mining tensions, it emphasizes significant gaps in financial transparency, indigenous rights legislation, and mine closure requirements.

• Suriname's primary mining legislation, the Mining Decree of 1986, is considered out of date and fails to reflect modern best practices. It lacks provisions for environmental and social impact assessments, links to national development goals, and financial assurances for mine closure. A draft Mining Act from 2004 was not adopted, but a multistakeholder commission was established in June 2016 to revise it for submission in 2017.
• The country lacks a national environmental law and a dedicated national environmental authority. While the Nationaal Instituut voor Milieu en Ontwikkeling in Suriname (NIMOS) provides comprehensive Environmental Assessment Guidelines Volume II – Mining (2005) that are widely used, NIMOS is only an advisory body under the office of the President and lacks enforcement power.
• Financial benefit optimization is hindered by parallel systems of governance and taxation. The equal legal standing of the Mining Decree and individual mineral agreements creates conflicting tax and royalty rates, which complicates accounting and may erode investor confidence. Additionally, there is limited transparency regarding the distribution of mining revenues at local, regional, and national levels.
• The Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) sector is a major economic driver, accounting for approximately 60% of gold production and employing an estimated 40,000 to 60,000 workers, but it remains largely informal. This informality leads to significant lost government revenues and widespread environmental damage, specifically deforestation and mercury contamination.
• Suriname faces significant challenges regarding indigenous and tribal rights due to a lack of national legislation. This absence of legal recognition for land and resource rights leads to tensions between indigenous communities, mine operators, and ASM miners, often resulting in a failure to uphold the principle of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC).
• There are critical gaps in the post-mining transition framework. While the Mining Decree and EIA guidelines mention rehabilitation, there are no specific regulations or directions from the Minister to ensure public safety and environmental protection during closure. Furthermore, there are no requirements for financial assurances to cover closure costs or policies for addressing abandoned and orphaned mines.
• The government has not yet ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and there is no national legislation governing mercury use. This has resulted in widespread mercury contamination in the ecosystem, with an estimated 44 tonnes released by the ASM sector in 2013, affecting fish and urban air quality in Paramaribo.
• The Ordening Goud Sector (OGS), a commission within the Ministry of Natural Resources, is noted as a strength for its ability to manage conflicts between large-scale and small-scale miners and for its efforts to register ASM miners to increase formalization.

APA

Crawford, A., & Bliss, M. (2017). IGF Mining Policy Framework Assessment: Suriname. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/suriname-mining-policy-framework-assessment-en.pdf

Chicago

Crawford, Alec, and Matthew Bliss. IGF Mining Policy Framework Assessment: Suriname. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2017. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/suriname-mining-policy-framework-assessment-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Crawford |first1=Alec |last2=Bliss |first2=Matthew |title=IGF Mining Policy Framework Assessment: Suriname |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=May 2017 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/suriname-mining-policy-framework-assessment-en.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{crawford2017igf, author = {Crawford, Alec and Bliss, Matthew}, title = {{IGF Mining Policy Framework Assessment: Suriname}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2017}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/suriname-mining-policy-framework-assessment-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }