Turkey Seeks Involvement in Reviving Syrian Oil and Gas Production
Turkey is looking to revive oil and gas production in Syria, as detailed by Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar. Amid ongoing supply challenges from Iran and Iraq due to sanctions and political upheaval, Turkey aims to enhance its involvement in Syrian energy infrastructure through proposed new pipelines and contributions to electricity and resource projects.
Turkey has expressed a keen interest in participating in the revitalization of oil and gas production in Syria, as reported by Bloomberg. Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar highlighted Turkey’s ongoing efforts to aid Syria’s electricity supply, noting that the enhancement of oil and gas contributions is under consideration. “We plan to tell our counterparts how we can make contributions in that sense. Our objective is to develop these projects,” he stated. Bayraktar also mentioned prospective plans for establishing new oil and gas pipelines linking Syria and Turkey.
Syria faces significant challenges in its oil and gas production capabilities due to ongoing U.S. sanctions and confrontations with various rebel factions. Historically, Iran and Iraq have been Syria’s main crude suppliers. However, recent political upheaval leading to the ousting of the Assad government has disrupted these supplies, most notably halting Iran’s transport of approximately 60,000 barrels of oil daily to Syria. Additionally, Iraq has ceased oil deliveries, which previously accounted for 120,000 barrels per day.
The overarching situation is further complicated by a cessation of crude transfers from eastern Syria— under the governance of the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces— to regions of Syria controlled by the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a group formerly associated with Al Qaeda. This multifaceted crisis highlights the potential for Turkey’s involvement in restoring Syria’s oil and gas sector amidst tightening supply chains and geopolitical strife.
The current landscape of Syrian oil and gas production is heavily influenced by international sanctions and internal conflict. With both Iran and Iraq withdrawing support for oil supplies in the wake of political changes, Syria is faced with a critical shortage of crude oil. American sanctions have exacerbated these challenges, creating a vacuum that Turkey seeks to fill. Turkey’s ambition to establish a presence in Syria’s energy sector reflects its strategic interests in regional stability and economic opportunity.
Turkey’s willingness to engage in the reconstruction of Syria’s oil and gas capabilities signifies a potential shift in the regional energy dynamics, especially against the backdrop of diminishing supplies from Iran and Iraq. With plans for new pipeline infrastructure and a strategic focus on energy contributions, Turkey aims to solidify its role in the evolving geopolitical landscape of Syria.
Original Source: oilprice.com
