This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L  PARAMARIBO 000836 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR LLUFTIG, EB 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/15 
TAGS: EPET ENRG ECON KTDB PREL NS
SUBJECT: FUTURE BRIGHT AS STATE-OWNED OIL COMPANY TURNS 25 
YEARS OLD 
 
REFTEL: PARAMARIBO 788 
 
Classified by Ambassador Marsha E. Barnes, Reasons 1.4(d). 
 
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Summary 
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¶1. (U) On December 13 Suriname's state-owned oil company, 
Staatsolie, celebrated its 25th anniversary and said 
farewell to the man who has led the company since the 
beginning, Eddy Jharap.  In his retirement speech Jharap 
highlighted the company's financial success and described 
the highs and lows of his tenure.  In a separate media 
interview, Jharap spoke positively about Suriname's 
offshore potential, called for the responsible spending of 
future profits, and recommended the company be partially 
privatized. End Summary. 
 
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The Achievements 
----------------- 
 
¶2. (U) On December 13 1980, the Government of Suriname 
(GOS) signed the petroleum contract that established 
Staatsolie.  With a capital base of 500,000 Surinamese 
Guilders, or 275,000 USD, the company started its 
operations in 1981.  Over the last 25 years, Staatsolie has 
produced a total of 57 million barrels of oil at a total 
value of 1.2 billion USD.  The company's total profit has 
been 466 million USD of which 149 million has been paid to 
the GOS as income tax and another 175 million USD turned 
over as dividend.  In the meantime, stockholder's equity 
has grown to 169 million USD.  The oil reserves have 
increased from 15 million barrels to 170 million barrels, 
with commercially viable reserves at 110 million barrels. 
At an average price of 20 USD per barrel the reserves are 
valued at 2.2 billion USD. 
 
¶3. (U) In his speech Jharap gave an overview of the 
memorable moments he experienced with Staatsolie: 
 
-- Within a year after the establishment of the company the 
first commercial field was found, which was followed by 
first production on November 25, 1982. 
-- In 1987 the company exported its first crude oil. 
-- In 1995 Staatsolie commenced the construction of a 
refinery, which went into production in 1997. 
-- To transport its oil, the company had three oil-tankers 
built and two pipelines constructed. 
-- In its 25 years Staatsolie has spent 441 million USD in 
exploration, production investments, and the construction 
of the refinery. 
 
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Suriname's Offshore Potential 
------------------------------ 
 
¶4. (U) In an interview with the daily "de Ware Tijd" Jharap 
talked about Staatsolie's offshore program.  Besides the 
three production-sharing agreements Staatsolie has with the 
Spanish Repsol YPF, Danish Mearsk and American Occidental 
Petroleum, it is also working on its own offshore project. 
According to Jharap expectations are very positive and he 
feels that the offshore programs will place Suriname on the 
"oil map."  Repsol's program is the furthest along and 
expectations are that an oil rig will be placed next year 
for test drilling.  Just the placement of the rig requires 
an investment of 25 to 30 million USD.  If results from 
this testing prove commercially viable, then an investment 
of approximately one billion USD will be required for 
production facilities.  Based on preparations and research, 
Jharap is optimistic that the program will be a significant 
success. 
 
¶5. (U) According to Jharap, Suriname will not have to wait 
for investments to be recuperated before it sees any 
revenue from offshore activities.  In the contracts it has 
with its partners, Staatsolie stipulated that the GOS will 
receive 6.25 percent in royalties of the gross income from 
every barrel of oil that is extracted.  This does not 
include the income tax Suriname will earn.  Staatsolie's 
initial input in the project is the oil field; in a later 
phase the company will be able to participate in production 
investments and development costs.  Staatsolie's advantage 
here is that once a commercial find has been made the 
company will not have to tap into its own finances, but it 
will be able to get external financing on the international 
capital market, according to Jharap.  Jharap is also very 
optimistic about the effect the offshore activities will 
have on Suriname's credit rating.  One condition for this, 
 
 
according to Jharap, is that the money the government earns 
is spent wisely, including continued reinvestment in the 
company. 
 
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Staatsolie's Low Point 
----------------------- 
 
¶6. (U)  As a low point in his time with the company Jharap 
recounted his near termination by the Wijdenbosch 
government.  In 1998 Jharap was fired after he opposed then 
President Jules Wijdenbosch's plans to sell off the 
Tambaredjo oil fields and other parts of Staatsolie.  Both 
management and workers of the company, supported by the 
private sector and labor organizations, protested against 
Jharap's termination by going on strike and shutting down 
all operations.  In fear of an escalation of the tension 
and a spillover of the strike to other parts of the 
economy, Wijdenbosch was forced to retract Jharap's 
termination and his plans.  (Note: This event was seen by 
many as the beginning of the end for the Wijdenbosch 
government, because less then a year afterwards massive 
national protests forced Wijdenbosch to hold early 
elections. End Note).  Both Lloyd Read, chair of the labor 
union at Staatsolie, and Marc Waaldijk, current interim 
director of the company, cited this event in their farewell 
speeches last week.  According to Read this was the first 
time in Surinamese history that workers and management had 
united in such a way. 
 
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The Future 
----------- 
 
¶7. (U)  In discussing Staatsolie's future Jharap said that 
he would like to see the company privatized.  He added that 
both management and the GOS should do all they can to 
prevent the "Wijdenbosch effect," as he called it, from 
ever happening again.  This can only happen if the company 
has a broad-based board of directors.  Jharap also argued 
that a diverse group of shareholders would benefit the 
company.  According to Jharap, the management team plans to 
present a proposal to the government to privatize 20 
percent of the company.  Only local businesses and 
Surinamers will be eligible to participate. 
 
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Comment 
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¶8. (C) Through the years Eddy Jharap and Staatsolie have 
been synonymous, and it would be hard to consider the 
success of the company without thinking of Jharap.  He has 
managed to shield the company from the political patronage 
staffing which has so damaged other parastatals.  He has 
fended off attempts to bleed the company dry, ensuring 
constant investment in modernization and staff training. 
In his farewell address to employees and invited guests, 
including President, government, business and diplomatic 
representatives, Jharap credited an American petroleum 
engineer who mentored the company in its first two years 
with putting it on the path to success.  His willingness to 
embrace foreign expertise contrasts with many Surinamers 
misplaced nationalism that makes them leery of much foreign 
intervention in the economy.  His forward-looking comments 
on the need for Suriname to spend its future oil profits 
wisely are welcome and will hopefully prove an impetus for 
continued dialogue on the subject.  Jharap complimented the 
Ambassador on an article in the press urging that Suriname 
think about how to use any oil boom to promote sustainable 
development.  "You said what I want to say."  The need for 
responsible management of future oil profits will be a true 
test for Suriname's government and people. 
 
BARNES 
 
 
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