Syria has inaugurated a regional gas transmission line linking the country with Azerbaijan through Turkey, with the capacity to supply up to 2bn cubic metres of natural gas annually to meet the electricity needs of 5mn households, Syrian and Turkish energy ministers announced on August 2.

The connection of gas to Syria will alleviate the country's long-term energy shortage following the disconnection through previous routes via Iraq. The supply was agreed upon previously between the al-Sharaa administration in Damascus and the Aliyev presidency in a recent visit by the Syrian president to Baku.  

Syria has inaugurated a regional gas transmission line linking the country with Azerbaijan through Turkey, with the capacity to supply up to 2bn cubic metres of natural gas annually to meet electricity needs of 5mn households, Syrian and Turkish energy ministers said.  

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Syrian Energy Minister Mohammed Al-Bashir, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikail Jabbarov, and representatives from the Qatar Development Fund, SANA reported on August 2.

Al-Bashir said, "The line will enable the supply of six million cubic metres of gas daily, starting with the delivery of 3.4mn cubic metres of gas per day coming from Azerbaijan through Turkey, as part of a generous assistance provided by our brothers in the State of Qatar."

The Syrian Energy Minister described the project as "a strategic step towards enhancing energy security in Syria" that will "directly contribute to improving power supply and increasing operating hours at generation stations."

He added, "This quantity will enable us to increase energy production by 750 megawatts, which will directly reflect on improving electricity supply by adding about four additional operating hours daily, a matter that will support the wheel of development and stimulate industry and the economy."

Turkish Energy Minister Bayraktar said electricity exports to Syria are carried out through eight different points, with export capacity expected to increase by 25% initially and then more than double.

Al-Bashir expressed "deep thanks to the partner countries in this achievement, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Qatar, for their fraternal supportive stances towards Syria."

The Syrian minister said, "The Ministry of Energy will work on purchasing and securing additional quantities of gas during the upcoming phase with the aim of increasing generation capacity and achieving further improvement in service."

Al-Bashir confirmed that "work continues around the clock to meet the needs of citizens and strengthen the stability of the electrical system throughout Syria."

The Qatari embassy in Damascus announced via the "X" platform the launch of the second phase of electricity support in Syria, with a capacity of 800 megawatts. This follows the first phase (mid-March) with a capacity of 400 MW, which contributed to stabilising the electricity grid and supporting the industrial sector.

The embassy explained that the second phase will last for a year, starting with the Aleppo power plant, which will distribute supplies to various cities and neighbourhoods, increasing the number of hours of electricity supply to five hours per day, representing a 40% improvement.