Enab Baladi – Nouran al-Samman
In a move reflecting its serious support for Syria, Qatar launched, on March 13, an initiative to supply the country with natural gas via Jordan to contribute to electricity generation. This is based on an agreement involving the Qatar Fund For Development and the Jordanian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), which will oversee the technical execution of the project.
According to official statements, Qatar will contribute to supporting the energy sector in Syria by providing two million cubic meters of natural gas daily. The Qatari gas will help generate 400 megawatts of electricity, leading to an improvement in power supply of two to four hours daily, which will positively impact everyday life for citizens and support vital sectors in Syria.
According to Syrian Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources, Ghiyath Diab, this initiative comes at a time when Syria is facing a severe shortage in electricity production due to the scarcity of gas and fuel oil. The Jordanian side, through which the gas will be supplied, indicated that the agreement is short-term.
The electricity shortage negatively affects citizens’ lives and hinders the government’s efforts to improve energy infrastructure and create a supportive investment environment, according to the minister.
Diab added, on March 14, that the initiative represents significant support for addressing challenges in the energy sector, enhancing Syria’s ability to achieve stability and economic growth, according to the official Syrian news agency (SANA).
What is Qatar’s and the international community’s role in the project?
Qatar’s statements regarding supplying Syria with electricity came in implementation of directives from Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to provide energy supplies to Syria.
These were followed by statements from the Director General of the Qatar Fund For Development, Fahd bin Hamad al-Sulaiti, who noted that this step is “central to meeting the Syrian people’s electricity needs” and reflects a joint commitment among all parties to work for the benefit of the region.
For his part, the chargé d’affaires of the Qatari embassy in Syria, Khalifa Abdullah Al Mahmoud Al-Sharif, during his visit to the Deir Ali station on March 14, stated that electricity will begin to flow through the station in its first phase, with production gradually increasing and distribution extending to the provinces of Damascus, Rif Dimashq, Homs, Daraa, Deir Ezzor, Quneitra, and Aleppo.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Electricity in the interim government of Damascus, Omar Shakrouq, mentioned that the Deir Ali station is the initial hub of the Arab Gas Pipeline from Jordan, but other stations can be activated through it, as the gas network is interconnected.
He clarified that while the quantity of gas supplied is important, it represents a “small part” of Syria’s total needs of 6,500 megawatts. Nevertheless, it will contribute to increasing daily supply by about two additional hours, with expectations for further improvement by the end of Ramadan.
Syria is facing a severe electricity shortage, where government electricity is available for only two to three hours daily in most areas.
The UNDP, playing a key role in the initiative, stated through its deputy in Syria, Mohammed Mudawi, that the program is working in coordination with the Syrian Ministry of Electricity and the Renewable Energy Center in Cairo to develop a strategic plan for the electricity sector in the country.
The UN’s contribution includes providing financial and technical support to the Ministry of Electricity and the Syrian Gas Company, in addition to assisting in the maintenance of the Arab Gas Pipeline within Syrian territory, should any emergencies arise that require intervention, according to Mudawi.
The Arab Gas Pipeline project started in the early 2000s, with the laying of pipelines from Egypt to Jordan and then Syria, aiming to reach Turkey, from where gas would be exported to Europe. However, the project stalled at Syria before completion, and most of the participating projects ceased after 2010 when the Arab region entered a state of instability.
On December 2, 2024, prior to the fall of the previous regime, the Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mahmoud Asmat, stated that his country is considering exporting electricity to Syria via Jordan under specific conditions.
Asmat mentioned in a statement to Asharq agency that this project remains contingent upon the stability of security and political conditions in Damascus.
Qatar’s role in addressing Syrian needs
The spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, Majid al-Ansari, confirmed during statements on Al-Jazeera that this initiative comes after the Emir of Qatar’s visit to Damascus and primarily aims to support the Syrian people’s needs and enhance Syrian infrastructure, with a focus on bolstering the electricity network.
He also noted that this step contributes to:
- Creating New Opportunities for the Local Economy: By improving the stability of electricity supplies, which is much needed by industrial and economic sectors.
- Supporting Vital Services: That will have a positive impact on essential services such as hospitals, schools, and water stations, thus enhancing stability and social peace related to the provision of such basic services.
- Contributing to State Reconstruction: By providing necessary energy for reconstruction projects and improving living standards.
The Qatari news agency (QNA) mentioned that this initiative embodies Qatar’s steadfast commitment to support the Syrian people, not just in humanitarian and relief aspects, but also in contributing to recovery and reconstruction efforts, ensuring access to essential services and achieving a better future for all.
The Jordanian role in the initiative
The Jordanian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Saleh al-Kharabsheh, announced on March 13 that the agreement includes using the floating regasification vessel at the Aqaba port to receive liquefied gas, convert it, and pump it into Syria via the Arab Gas Pipeline.
He emphasized that the agreement is not “a commercial contract” but rather “assistance to our brothers in Syria,” confirming it aims to provide Syrians with part of their natural gas needs to operate one of the electricity generation stations located in southern Syria, referring to the Deir Ali thermal station.
The Deir Ali thermal station, near the city of al-Kiswah south of Damascus, is one of the largest power generation stations in the country, with a production capacity of 1,500 megawatts.
The station operates on gas, with the possibility of switching to diesel when necessary. According to the current plan, Qatari gas supplies will be directed to this station to enhance its efficiency and operational capacity.
On February 24, the German envoy to Syria, Stefan Schneck, stated that lifting sanctions on Syria would pave the way for Siemens to repair the Deir Ali power station, considering this step a beginning for Syria’s return to the international community after years of isolation under Assad’s rule.
Siemens is a leading technology company headquartered in Munich, Germany, focusing on industry, infrastructure, transport, and healthcare.
The Jordanian Energy Minister pointed out that the agreement is “short-term,” set to end on April 30, to supply Syrians with part of their gas needs. He added that the agreement launched by Qatar, on March 13, to supply natural gas to Syria via Jordan was specifically designated for the Syrian Nassib crossing, which corresponds to the Jaber crossing on the Jordanian side, not for other uses due to the need for the Syrian electricity network to be rehabilitated.
Experimental agreement
Syrian researcher at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, Ayman Dasuki, believes that the Qatari initiative is “important” as it sends a message regarding Qatar’s commitment to the stability of Syria.
This initiative paves the way for future steps, such as obtaining broader American exemptions and encouraging foreign companies to enter the Syrian market, especially in the electricity sector, according to the Syrian researcher in an interview with Enab Baladi.
He also noted that the multilateral agreement (Qatar, Jordan, the United Nations) received an American green light, reflecting a flexibility in the US stance on the Syrian file, and it may be an indicator of the potential for enhanced economic cooperation in the future.
A US official told Reuters on March 13 that the Qatari gas deal to Syria received approval from President Donald Trump’s administration, without clarifying how this communication occurred.
A Western diplomat familiar with the Qatari gas plan mentioned that the Qatari move is part of Doha’s efforts to secure political support from Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, by providing tangible assistance to support the new Syrian administration.
The diplomat added, “They are very eager to provide something in the end, even if it does not make a significant difference.”
Dasuki described the agreement as a “test balloon,” indicating that its limited duration reflects its experimental nature.
He believes that the sustainability of the agreement is linked to “certain internal and external conditions on the new mandate, which seems to be following a step-by-step approach,” including regional and international trends toward stabilizing Syria and preventing it from becoming a hotspot of instability or a haven for terrorist organizations.
Dasuki mentioned to Enab Baladi that Qatar had previously attempted to provide financial support to the Syrian government to pay state employees’ salaries, along with studying floating power generation projects with Qatari-Turkish support. However, US sanctions and the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s administration’s policy toward Syria posed obstacles to implementing these projects.
Electricity reality in Syria
Economic journalist Samir al-Tawil explained to Enab Baladi that before 2011, the electricity sector in Syria was able to cover about 90% of the country’s needs, despite the continual need for maintenance of the stations and securing operational resources from fuel oil and natural gas.
The challenges facing the sector at that time were not at the level of the current difficulties, as the war has exhausted the electrical infrastructure and rendered many generation stations out of service, according to al-Tawil.
Al-Tawil told Enab Baladi that improving the electricity situation in Syria requires a comprehensive approach that includes lifting sanctions, repairing damaged stations, and establishing new plants capable of meeting the increasing demand for energy, aiming to restore the situation to 40 to 50% of what it was before 2011.
He also pointed to the possibility of involving the private sector in rehabilitating the electrical infrastructure through partial privatization or attracting international investments, to ensure the sustainability of these efforts and achieve balanced economic growth.
Improving the electricity sector remains an urgent necessity to ensure economic stability and achieve sustainable development in Syria, according to economic journalist al-Tawil.
He noted that one of the temporary solutions previously resorted to was the Arab gas project, which provided natural gas to power stations via Egypt and Jordan.
Since 2011, the electrical system in Syria has suffered damages estimated at over 50%, resulting in a reduction in production capacity, which is currently estimated at 30% (3000 megawatts) of the basic generation capacity in Syria, which was around 9000 megawatts, according to the Jusoor for Studies Center.
The percentage of lost energy reached approximately 26%, with power outages occurring for 43 days a year before 2011.
In 2021, electricity rationing reached 10 hours for every hour and a half of electricity in Aleppo, the second most important city in Syria, while the capital, Damascus, recorded 5 hours of power outages for every hour of electricity, according to a research report from the European University Institute (EUI).
The electrical infrastructure in Syria has sustained damage amid the conflict, due to neglect, theft, sabotage, and bombardment.
Syria has 14 electricity generation stations, 11 of which operate on fossil fuels, and 3 on hydropower, with the oldest operating station since 1973 being the Tabqa dam in the western Raqqa countryside.
The Aleppo thermal station was destroyed in 2015, the Zeyzoun station in Idlib in 2016, and the al-Taim station in Deir Ezzor in 2017, which are essential power generation stations, and their combined nominal capacity is 1706 megawatts, equaling approximately 18.25% of the total production in Syria.