Syria is seeking foreign investment across its energy sector, from exploration to mining, and welcomes Turkish companies to take part in the country鈥檚 post-war reconstruction, Syrian Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir told Anadolu.
鈥淪yria is open to investments in all segments of the energy sector,鈥� al-Bashir told Anadolu on the sidelines of the 陌stanbul Natural Resources Summit.
鈥淭hese include opportunities in exploration, drilling, refining, and transmission in the oil and gas sector, as well as the rehabilitation of power lines and plants, the reconstruction of refineries, and mining activities,鈥� he added.
Praising T眉rkiye鈥檚 long-standing support for Syria, the Syrian minister highlighted recent Turkish efforts to provide electricity to northern Syria.
鈥淲e are about to sign an agreement for a 400-kilovolt transmission line extending from T眉rkiye into Syria,鈥� he said.
鈥淎dditionally, we are working to rehabilitate the natural gas pipeline connecting Kilis and Aleppo,鈥� he added. 鈥淥nce operational, it could supply 6 million cubic meters of gas per day to Syria鈥檚 power generation stations, significantly improving our energy situation.鈥�
The Syrian energy minister said preparations are underway for a new transmission line between T眉rkiye鈥檚 Reyhanli and Syria鈥檚 Harem region, through which around 80 megawatts of electricity will be delivered to northern Syria once the tender process is completed.
- Cooperation in offshore gas exploration
Noting Syria鈥檚 preparation to launch a series of investment projects in the oil and gas sector, al-Bashir also underlined plans to develop the country鈥檚 mining sector, focusing on phosphate and lithium.
Recalling Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar鈥檚 call for offshore natural gas exploration during their discussions, Al-Bashir said that both countries will sign a framework agreement for broader energy cooperation.
Syria鈥檚 energy infrastructure has been devastated by over a decade of civil war, resulting in widespread damage to oil facilities, power plants, and transmission lines.
Once one of the top oil and gas producers in the eastern Mediterranean, Syria has seen output collapse. Oil production has fallen from 383,000 barrels per day and natural gas output from 316 million cubic feet per day to a fraction of those levels, according to the US Energy Information Administration. With exports halted, a major source of government revenue has largely dried up.
Since 2017, T眉rkiye has been supplying electricity and fuel to regions in northern Syria.
By Firdevs Yuksel and Handan Kazanci
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr