Türkiye intends to export two billion cubic meters of gas to Syria

Türkiye announced Thursday its intention to export two billion cubic meters of natural gas and increase its electricity exports to Syria.

This came during a press conference held by Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar with his Syrian counterpart, Mohammed al Bashir, in the capital, Damascus.

Bayraktar noted that Türkiye, along with the new Syrian government, has been making strenuous efforts since last December to revive and rebuild the Arab country.

He stated that the framework agreement signed today in the fields of energy, minerals, and hydrocarbons represents an important roadmap.

He stressed the existence of short, medium and long-term projects in Syria in this regard.

He expressed Türkiye’s desire to triple electricity exports to Syria, reaching 1,000 megawatts in the coming months, to meet its short-term needs.

He pointed to the intensification of efforts to secure the natural gas needed to operate power plants in Syria.

He said that Türkiye would soon begin exporting approximately two billion cubic meters of gas to Syria annually, reaching as far as Aleppo and Homs provinces, without specifying a date.

He explained that this step will contribute to adding 1,200-1,300 megawatts to the electricity generated in Syria.

Minister Bayraktar noted that work has begun on the infrastructure investments Syria will need.

He continued, “We’re working intensively to increase current production from Syria’s existing oil and natural gas resources, discover new resources on land and at sea, and utilize the economic value generated in infrastructure and the reconstruction of Syria”.

He stated that there is great potential for cooperation between Türkiye and Syria, particularly in the energy sector, stressing that Turkish and international investors have great interest in this regard.

He noted that he and his counterpart, Mohammed al Bashir, had exerted intensive efforts over the past months to develop plans for electricity, energy, and basic services needed by Syrian citizens.

From his part, Bayraktar explained that they are working intensively to secure electricity for more than half of the day in Syria, he added that, “The work accomplished is beginning to bear fruit on the ground. For example, gas will, God willing, begin flowing to Aleppo, and from there to other areas in Syria, and citizens will feel it”.

Bayraktar pointed out that lifting international sanctions would provide a crucial investment and financing opportunity for Syria, and affirmed Türkiye’s readiness to develop projects for Syria’s development and enable its people to live in much better conditions.

He continued, “God willing, you will see us signing various agreements more frequently from now on, and we hope that Syrian-Turkish cooperation will yield positive results for all of us within the framework of brotherhood”.