ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Qatar will assist Syria in boosting its electricity generation by 400 megawatts as the country faces power shortages, Syria’s oil minister announced on Friday.
“The State of Qatar’s initiative calls for providing natural gas supplies to Syria via Jordanian territory, which will contribute to generating electricity at an initial rate of up to 400 megawatts, gradually increasing it to provide an additional two to four hours of operation,” said Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources Ghiath Diab, state media SANA reported.
The assistance “represents significant support for addressing the challenges facing Syria's energy sector and enhances our ability to achieve stability and economic growth,” he added.
Qatar’s Fund for Development said on Thursday that it was being implemented following a directive by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, emir of Qatar.
“This initiative reflects the State of Qatar's steadfast commitment and continuous support to the brotherly Syrian people in humanitarian and relief fields, contributing to recovery and reconstruction efforts, and ensuring the provision of essential services to achieve a more stable and prosperous future for all,” the fund said in a post on X.
According to Diab, Syria has a severe shortage of electricity due to the lack of gas and fuel.
Before the start of the civil war, Syria produced about 385,000 barrels of oil daily and production from Damascus-controlled areas now stands at 10,000 barrels per day, Ahmad Sulaiman, head of the Syrian oil ministry’s public relations office, told Rudaw in February.
The interim government in Damascus has begun receiving over 15,000 barrels of oil daily and as much as one million cubic meters of natural gas from Kurdish-controlled fields in the northeast.
