PARAMARIBO, SURINAME – Halliburton’s plans to establish a storage facility for radioactive sources used in oilfield operations in Houttuin have sparked concern among residents of surrounding communities, who are questioning the potential environmental and safety implications of the project.
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The proposal is currently undergoing an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) process through the National Environment Authority (NMA). During public consultations, residents raised several concerns ranging from the proposed location of the facility and its proximity to communities to broader questions about emergency preparedness, regulatory oversight and the handling of radioactive sources in Suriname. Residents are concerned that the proposed location is above the Zanderij aquifer and that any incident involving the stored materials could pose a contamination risk to one of Suriname’s most important freshwater reserves.
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The debate comes as the country prepares for a significant increase in offshore oil and gas activity, which is expected to increase demand for specialized services and infrastructure to support exploration and development operations.
OilNOW asked Minister of Oil, Gas and Environment Patrick Brunings about the concerns raised by residents, the country’s regulatory framework for radioactive sources and the status of Halliburton’s application.
“Storing radioactive material for the oil and gas industry is not new for Suriname since we have conducted logging operations in the onshore for almost 40 years,” Brunings said.
According to the minister, the expansion of offshore activity has increased the need for
storage facilities located close to operational shore bases.
“With the upcoming offshore operations, storage for radioactive materials for the logging
operations will be needed preferably as near as possible to the shore bases,” he said.
The radioactive sources at the center of the debate are used in well-logging operations, a standard practice in the oil and gas industry that helps companies collect information about underground rock formations and reservoirs during drilling activities. The data obtained through these operations can provide insights into formation properties, fluid characteristics and other subsurface conditions that help operators evaluate wells and reservoirs.
Radioactive sources used in oilfield logging are typically stored in multiple protective layers, including sealed capsules housed within heavily shielded containers designed to prevent the release of radiation and protect workers and the surrounding environment.
Such technologies are widely used throughout the global oil and gas industry, including in mature producing jurisdictions such as Norway, Brazil and Japan. Oilfield logging services utilizing radioactive sources have also been conducted in Suriname for decades as part of onshore petroleum operations.
Brunings noted that Suriname developed specific guidelines for handling radioactive sources in 2025 under the country’s Environmental Framework Act.
“This includes import and export guidelines, transportation guidelines and guidelines for
safe and secured storage of radioactive material,” he said. “These guidelines are based on the international standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which also specifically provides guidelines for radioactive materials for the oil and gas industry.”
The minister stressed that Halliburton’s application remains under review and that no final decision has been made.
The ESIA process includes consultations with surrounding communities. Brunings acknowledged that concerns were raised during the first stakeholder engagement session and said they would be considered as part of the evaluation.
“In the first stakeholder meeting with the local community, many concerns were raised, and these concerns will of course be addressed and taken into the overall evaluation,” he said.
Brunings indicated that additional consultations may be organized as the review process continues.
“If needed, additional stakeholder meetings and specific info sessions will be held because it is essential that the communities are adequately informed and that they are fully aware of the activities that will be conducted at the storage facility and all activities associated with the storage,” he said.
He added that the government views community engagement as an important part of the project’s assessment.
“As a ministry, we welcome these concerns because a project is not only successful if revenues are generated, but also if communities feel safe and protected in doing so,” Brunings said.
