PARAMARIBO, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Suriname state oil firm

Staatsolie will launch in November an "open-door offering" for

offshore areas to be explored and evaluated, the company said on

Tuesday, as the small South American nation seeks partners and

financing for what it hopes could be an oil and gas boom.

Following a positive investment decision last year for the

flagship $12 billion Gran Morgu project between TotalEnergies

, APA Corp ( APA ) and Staatsolie, and several reserve

findings by Malaysia's Petronas at Block 52, the country expects

to inaugurate offshore oil and gas output by 2028.

As opposed to neighbor Guyana, where all production is

controlled by an Exxon Mobil-led consortium, Suriname wants to

secure a diverse energy sector by promoting partnerships between

Staatsolie and companies from the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Companies currently exploring have been awarded areas following

bidding rounds.

Staatsolie and Petronas in June signed a production-sharing

contract for Block 66 in the western part of the Suriname-Guyana

Basin, expanding the total number of areas where Petronas is

participating to six.

In this upcoming round for offshore acreage, companies will be

able to opt for technical evaluation agreements or

production-sharing contracts, Staatsolie said in a release.

Full details for the offering will be published on November

24, Staatsolie added.