Block 58 & The Road to First Oil: What Suriname's FPSO Era Means for Local Industry
TotalEnergies and APA's GranMorgu development in Block 58 is on track for first oil in 2028. Here's what FPSO operations mean for Suriname — and the PPE standards required to support them.
Suriname is on the cusp of becoming one of the most important new oil-producing nations in the Atlantic basin. Following multiple successful discoveries in offshore Block 58 — Maka Central, Sapakara, Krabdagu and Keskesi — operator TotalEnergies, in partnership with APA Corporation, formally took FID on the GranMorgu development in late 2024.
The project will use a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel with a target capacity of around 220,000 barrels per day. First oil is expected in 2028, marking the first commercial offshore oil production in Suriname's history.
FPSO operations introduce a completely new risk profile to the country's industrial workforce: hot work in confined spaces, hydrocarbon exposure, working at height on production decks, marine evacuation drills and 24/7 shift work in tropical heat. Every one of these scenarios demands certified, internationally recognized PPE — not generic workwear.
Safety Steps is positioning Suriname's contractors, EPC firms and service companies to meet these standards now, before the offshore mobilization wave hits. Through our Delta Plus, Conforto and Bracol partnerships we stock EN ISO 20345 S3-rated safety footwear, hi-vis FR-compatible workwear, hand and head protection — all in Paramaribo, ready to ship.
The companies that prepare their PPE supply chains today will be the ones awarded the contracts tomorrow. We're already working with several local service providers building out their offshore-ready inventories.
Need PPE for an offshore or industrial project?
Safety Steps stocks Delta Plus, Conforto and Bracol PPE locally in Paramaribo. Get a quote tailored to your scope of work.