ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syria has begun importing Azerbaijani natural gas via a newly launched pipeline through Turkey, in a development expected to significantly enhance the country’s electricity supply, a senior official from the Syrian energy ministry told Rudaw on Sunday.
Ahmed al-Sulaiman, director of government communications at the Syrian energy ministry, confirmed that “the gas pipeline connecting Turkey and Syria has been opened,” and that “Azerbaijani gas is now being imported.”
The initial supply volume is 3.4 million cubic meters of gas per day, which Sulaiman said would generate between 750 and 800 megawatts of electricity. This is expected to add up to “five extra hours of power daily,” raising the total to approximately nine to ten hours of electricity supply across the country. “Currently, electricity generation stands at four to five hours per day,” he noted, adding that the increase “will be felt in all Syrian regions and provinces.”
Sulaiman described the pipeline as a "positive and effective step" within a broader $7 billion energy development plan. The long-term goal is to boost imports to six million cubic eters per day, potentially extending daily electricity supply to about 14 hours in the near future.
Earlier in the day, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported on the new natural gas import agreement, which involves Azerbaijan supplying gas to Syria via Turkey, and is funded by the Qatar Fund for Development.
SANA further relayed a joint statement by all of Syria, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Qatar which hailed the initiative as a "symbol of regional solidarity." The pipeline project “carries strong humanitarian implications, directly contributing to revitalizing the Syrian economy,” the statement read, adding that its swift completion offers “vital support for the reconstruction process in Syria.”
In a statement on X, the Azerbaijani embassy in Damascus described the inauguration of the new gas pipeline a reflection of the country’s new leadership and its “political will.” The embassy emphasized that the project is aimed at supporting “the reconstruction and economic development process in friendly Syria.”
On the oil front, Sulaiman told Rudaw that current domestic oil production stands at around 100,000 barrels per day - down significantly from the 400,000 barrels produced daily before the Syrian conflict began in 2011. He said the government’s objective is to restore output to pre-war levels once it regains “full control of the oil fields.”
Below is the full transcript of the interview with Ahmed al-Sulaiman.
Rudaw: Mr. Ahmed, first of all, how do you assess the importance of the project to import Azerbaijani gas to Syria at this time? And does it represent a change in Syrian energy policy?
Ahmed al-Sulaiman: Yesterday [Saturday], the gas pipeline connecting Turkey and Syria was opened. Azerbaijani gas is now being imported through this pipeline, with the support and funding of the Qatar Fund for Development. The amount is estimated at 3.4 million cubic meters of gas. Its impact will be positive for energy in Syria. It will generate 750 to 800 megawatts, which will lead to five more hours of power generation, increasing total operation to nine to ten hours per day, instead of 14 hours of rationing. God willing, we will launch other projects to increase energy production. We will also import six million cubic meters of gas from the Syrian-Turkish pipeline.
Is it safe to say that the import of Azerbaijani gas as a transitional step within a broader vision of the major energy projects announced by the government, worth $7 billion?
Absolutely. It is a positive and effective step in gas importation. God willing, we will reach six million cubic meters of gas, and there will be greater electricity production, in addition to other links that will increase Syria’s electricity capacity.
You mentioned that it was decided to increase the daily electricity supply to ten hours in some areas, after it was only three to four hours. How accurate are these figures today? Is it expected to be fixed or temporary?
It will increase by five additional hours. Currently, operation is from four to five hours; it will increase by five more hours, reaching nine to ten hours of daily operation. This will be in all Syrian regions and provinces, throughout the Syrian Arab Republic, without discrimination. Distribution will be fair. Each province has a consumption capacity and will be supplied accordingly. Citizens will notice this difference across Syria.
When will they start noticing the difference?
Natural gas began to be pumped yesterday. The gas pipes were empty yesterday, and today they are being filled. Then the gas will be pumped to generating stations - Aleppo station, Jandar station in Homs, and Deir Ali station in Rif Dimashq [Damascus countryside]. God willing, this quantity will reach the stations and start generating electricity. At that moment, people will notice the difference in operating hours. This will happen in a few days.
Regarding the distribution of electricity, Mr. Ahmed, how will it be distributed to each city and province? How many hours will electricity increase?
As I mentioned, the Syrian grid is a circular network connected to all parts of Syria. Electricity generation in Aleppo affects all provinces, and the same applies to generation in Homs. Distribution will be fair to all provinces. Citizens will notice an increase in all provinces, with operating hours increasing to about ten hours per day, compared to previous rationing of 14 hours per day, God willing. Things will improve, God willing. We are aiming for 14 hours per day through upcoming projects.
If gas imports rise to six million cubic meters per day as planned, what is the expected additional improvement? Can we expect continuous supply in some areas?
Absolutely. Operating hours will increase. If an additional 2.6 million cubic meters are imported, the total will be six million, and operating hours could increase to about 14 hours per day, compared to the current ten hours of rationing, God willing. Electricity will be distributed to all provinces equally; no province will always have electricity while others face rationing. All provinces will have the same operating and rationing hours.
Is there a timetable to reach the peak of this project at six million cubic meters?
Absolutely. After the current supply of 3.4 million cubic meters, supported by the Qatar Fund for Development, we will study or import an additional 2.6 million cubic meters to reach six million total. God willing, this increase will happen in the near future.
There is also the issue of importing fuel, which supports stations that operate on fuel. All of this, God willing, benefits citizens and supports longer electricity operation hours.
In recent months, there have been many meetings and discussions between the Syrian energy ministry and the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) in northeast Syria (Rojava) regarding oil and gas imports. Are these meetings ongoing?
There have been no meetings except one regarding water in Aleppo province, which was held there. An agreement was made to reduce the flow of water from regions held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to Iraq. This reduction aims to preserve water behind dams in eastern Syria. These meetings were held between the energy ministry and SDF representatives in the past few months.
Will the electricity supply include Hasaka province and areas in north and east Syria as well?
God willing, it will be included. However, the lines connecting those regions need major maintenance. In general, connection lines across Syria require maintenance. Cables need replacement because if they are not of good quality, they cannot bear the load. According to my knowledge, there are no high-quality cables connecting north and east Syria. Maintenance and reconstruction are necessary, and the region is unsafe due to landmines. These landmines must be removed along with the maintenance of the lines. God willing, we will work on this in the coming days.
How far has local oil and gas production capacity reached in Syria today? Are there figures about the actual working fields and daily production quantities?
In general, nothing has changed much in Syria today. We mentioned earlier that current oil production is about 100,000 barrels per day, which is very low compared to before the 2011 revolution, when production was around 400,000 barrels per day. Today, production stands at about 100,000 barrels per day. God willing, after full control of the oil fields [by the Syrian government], we will develop these fields to restore previous production levels and increase drilling to raise daily oil output, God willing.
