Key information
- Turkish authorities aim to revitalize Syria’s oil and gas sector.
- Turkey plans to collaborate with Syria to increase production and meet electricity needs.
- Long-term cooperation is possible, including new pipelines connecting Syria to Turkey’s export terminals.
Turkish authorities are seeking to revitalize Syria’s oil and gas sector, seeking to become more involved in rebuilding the war-torn country. Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar outlined the plans, emphasizing collaboration to increase production and meet the electricity needs of Syria, whose infrastructure has been ravaged by years of conflict. He said Turkey was evaluating the use of crude oil and natural gas for reconstruction efforts and intended to present potential contributions to its counterparts.
Turkey’s interest in the reconstruction of Syria
The minister’s statements underline Turkey’s ambition to participate in the reconstruction of Syria following the recent change of power. While Syria was already a small hydrocarbon producer before the conflict, political obstacles remain to revive its energy industries.
Projects and developments
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is actively cultivating relations with the groups that run Syria’s interim government. These relationships could make Turkish companies key players in reconstruction and facilitate the return of Syrian refugees currently residing in Türkiye.
Mr. Bayraktar raised the possibility of long-term cooperation involving new oil and gas pipelines connecting Syria to Turkish export terminals. Syria’s oil production is currently estimated at around 30,000 barrels per day, just 5 percent of the levels recorded two decades ago.
Other projects and cooperation in the field of energy
In the energy field, Bayraktar revealed that he plans to make final decisions regarding contractors for Turkey’s second and third nuclear power plants. He also said that talks with an Iraqi delegation are planned to discuss the potential resumption of oil flow through the Iraq-Ceyhan pipeline.
Mr. Bayraktar also announced that Turkey plans to start producing gold in 2025 at one of its exploration sites in Niger, where it has secured three additional exploration zones. Discussions with France regarding offshore wind energy projects are also underway. Finally, he said that no increase in electricity prices was planned for January.
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