Water-Energy-Food Security and Mining in Suriname

The report details the development of the WEFsat-Mining tool, designed to help decision-makers in Suriname assess how mining impacts community access to water, energy, and food. It highlights the critical role of the mining sector in Suriname's economy, while noting severe environmental risks such as mercury pollution from artisanal gold mining. The project included capacity-building workshops and the proposal of a hydrologic monitoring framework to track water quality and quantity. Key recommendations emphasize the need for integrated WEF planning, diversified renewable energy, and improved local hiring and procurement policies to enhance community well-being.

• 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 GDP.
• Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), involving 20,000 to 30,000 people, has caused significant environmental degradation, specifically the salinization of rivers and creeks due to the misuse of mercury.
• The WEFsat-Mining tool was developed to analyze the status of water, energy, and food security in communities and identify how mining operations influence these systems across their life cycle.
• In interior Suriname, communities rely heavily on natural infrastructure, such as waterways and biodiversity, and depend on government subsidies for diesel fuel and water pumps.
• Mining operations in Suriname can negatively impact WEF security through water pollution (mercury and sediment), land use conflicts that limit agricultural space, and increased fuel prices due to high industrial demand.
• A proposed Hydrologic Information System (HIS) for Suriname would monitor sediment loading, water quantity, and flooding to reduce infrastructure risks and protect food sources.
• The report recommends that mining companies, such as the state-owned Grassalco, prioritize local hiring and create local markets for community-grown food to improve regional purchasing power.
• There is a critical lack of systematic data collection and reporting in Suriname, necessitating investment in transparent monitoring technologies and the development of context-specific WEF indicators.

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} }