Water-Energy-Food Security and Mining in Suriname

This report describes a project by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to develop and test a Water-Energy-Food (WEF) security assessment tool (WEFsat-Mining) in Suriname. The project aimed to help decision-makers understand the interlinkages between mining operations and the environmental and social factors that contribute to community well-being, specifically focusing on the availability and access to water, energy, and food.

• Mining is the primary driver of Suriname's economy, with the export value of mining commodities rising from USD 1.2 billion in 2007 to USD 2.5 billion in 2013, accounting for nearly 40 per cent of the national GDP.
• Gold mining activities, particularly artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) involving 20,000 to 30,000 people, have caused significant environmental and social damage, including the salinization of rivers and creeks due to the misuse of mercury.
• Mining operations in Suriname often occur within the Greenstone Belt, leading to conflicts between mining activities and the traditional living patterns of indigenous people residing there.
• The WEFsat-Mining tool was developed to analyze the status of water, energy, and food security in communities and evaluate how mining influences these systems through a 10-worksheet process covering community profiles, WEF inventories, and mining influence diagrams.
• In interior communities of Suriname, WEF security is heavily dependent on natural infrastructure (waterways, forestry, and biodiversity) and government subsidies, such as free diesel for generators and the provision of water pumps.
• Mining operations can negatively impact WEF security by polluting water with mercury and sediment, limiting food access through land-use changes and habitat destruction, and increasing local fuel prices due to high diesel demand.
• The report identifies a critical lack of systematic data collection and reporting in Suriname, recommending the implementation of Hydrologic Information Systems (HIS) to monitor sediment, water quantity, and flooding to better manage WEF security.
• To improve WEF security, the report recommends that mining companies prioritize local hiring policies and create local markets for community-produced goods, such as vegetables and livestock.

APA

Roy, D., Bizikova, L., Borden, C., Swanson, D., & Huppé, G. A. (2015). Water-Energy-Food Security and Mining in Suriname. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/water-energy-food-security-mining-suriname-project-overview.pdf

Chicago

Roy, Dimple, Livia Bizikova, Carter Borden, Darren Swanson, and Gabriel A. Huppé. Water-Energy-Food Security and Mining in Suriname. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2015. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/water-energy-food-security-mining-suriname-project-overview.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Roy |first1=Dimple |last2=Bizikova |first2=Livia |last3=Borden |first3=Carter |last4=Swanson |first4=Darren |last5=Huppé |first5=Gabriel A. |title=Water-Energy-Food Security and Mining in Suriname |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=September 2015 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/water-energy-food-security-mining-suriname-project-overview.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{roy2015waterenergyfood, author = {Roy, Dimple and Bizikova, Livia and Borden, Carter and Swanson, Darren and Huppé, Gabriel A.}, title = {{Water-Energy-Food Security and Mining in Suriname}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2015}, month = sep, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/water-energy-food-security-mining-suriname-project-overview.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }