Turkey’s new energy deal could power Syria

In a bid to ease the power shortages that continue to plague Syria in the aftermath of its 13-year civil war, Turkey has stepped in with a lofty new energy deal. The plan could triple Ankara’s energy exports, cementing its role as a key regional investor.

At a press conference in Damascus on May 22, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced that his country sought to “triple our current electricity exports to meet Syria’s electricity needs and realize an electricity export of approximately 1,000 megawatts in the coming months,” reports the Arab Weekly plus agencies.

“In a very short time,” Bayraktar said, Ankara will begin shipping some two billion cubic meters of gas annually to Aleppo and Homs. This would generate an extra 1,200–1,300 MW of power and “push Syria’s electricity availability to more than ten hours a day.”

After signing an agreement with his Syrian counterpart, Mohammed al-Bashir, on energy cooperation, the two outlined plans to complete a 400 kV cross-border line by year’s end, which would allow an additional 500 MW to be imported immediately.

They also envisioned Turkish investment in sectors hard-hit by relentless sanctions under the toppled Assad regime, such as mining, phosphate production, and power distribution. Bashir praised the agreement, saying it would “significantly boost” generation capacity and improve living conditions.

For Syrians long accustomed to blackouts that last over twenty hours, the agreement is a welcome reprieve. Much of the country’s transmission network was reduced to rubble during the conflict and repairing it has required vast resources and expertise. Turkey, which backed rebel groups during the war, is now positioning itself as a key partner in Damascus’s reconstruction.

Bayraktar may have grander ambitions, describing “intensive work” to explore new onshore and offshore oil and gas fields. “We stand ready,” he said, “to develop projects with our state-owned and private firms, alongside international partners.”

Ever since the United States and European Union announced plans to lift economic sanctions and normalize ties with Syria, other countries have followed suit. Foreign investment is steadily gaining momentum as those who previously backed opposition forces now compete to shape the country’s post-war landscape.

Arab Weekly/ Agencies/ Maghrebi