Bilal Al-Khalaf – Tafaseel Press
In a step that clearly indicates a Turkish-Syrian rapprochement on the energy issue, Syrian Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir announced, during his official visit to Turkey, and citing statements he made to Bloomberg, that the two sides are about to sign a new agreement to establish a 400-kilovolt high-voltage power line extending from Turkish territory to Syria.
Al-Bashir confirmed that a parallel project to establish a natural gas pipeline between Kilis, Turkey, and Aleppo, Syria, is currently undergoing reactivation after years of hiatus. He indicated that the pipeline will allow the transfer of approximately 6 million cubic meters of gas per day to power plants in Syria, which will have a tangible impact on improving The country’s electricity situation.
In a related context, the Syrian minister revealed that an additional power line linking the Turkish region of Reyhanli and the city of Harem in northern Syria is close to being implemented. An electrical conversion center has been equipped on the Turkish side, and this line is expected to supply northern Syrian regions with approximately 80 megawatts of electricity, once the contracting and bidding procedures are completed.
Al-Bashir’s statements were not limited to the electricity and gas sector. He explained that his country is paying special attention to the mining sector, and that new plans have been drawn up to extract strategic minerals such as phosphate and lithium.
The minister also indicated that the issue of natural gas exploration in territorial waters was raised during his meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Alparslan Bayraktar, revealing the two parties’ intention to sign a framework agreement for joint cooperation in various energy fields, including offshore exploration projects.
These statements come at a time Attention is turning to any possible rapprochement between Ankara and Damascus, especially given the need for both sides to find practical solutions to improve energy infrastructure and open up horizons for cooperation in vital sectors that transcend political differences.
