“What we want to develop are near-shore areaspossibly with new partners,”says managing director Mark Waaldijk.“That is still under study but we think the near-shore and shallow-water areas are low risk enough for us.”

The boss says further details may emerge next year, when Suriname will also get its first taste of offshore exploration drilling in decades. A Repsol YPF-led group is preparing to mobilise a rig to drill a well on its Block 30 in the first quarter.

“In