Syria seeks regional cooperation in energy after Iran halts oil shipments

ANKARA (AA) – Syria is seeking regional cooperation after Iran halted oil shipments to Damascus following the end of the 61-year Baath regime, further worsening the country’s ongoing energy crisis.

Sources say that the Assad regime got about 90% of oil from Iran — 60,000 to 70,000 barrels per day — and the remaining 10% was procured from the country’s own oil fields.

Western countries cut diplomatic relations with Syria at the start of the civil war in 2011 and imposed numerous sanctions and restrictive policies on its energy sector, prompting the country to almost completely depend on Iran for fuel, but Iran’s recent suspension of oil shipments brought production at Syria’s largest oil processor in Baniyas to a standstill.

Qatari Minister of State Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi visited Damascus and met the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa.

No official announcement has been made but experts believe such developments could usher in a new era in Syria’s regional energy relations.

– ‘Saudi Arabia can fill gap Iran left in Syria’ –

Gokhan Ereli, coordinator of Gulf studies at Turkish think tank ORSAM, told Anadolu that a strategic move could be made to tip the energy balance in the region, and Saudi Arabia could fill the gap Iran left in Syria.

“Sources close to the Saudi Arabian media said that the country may take responsibility for Syria’s lack of access to oil and this move could contribute to the strengthening of diplomatic relations between the new Syrian government and the Gulf states,” he said.

“Qatar’s investments in power plants and the energy infrastructure are in line with the policies of the Gulf countries to increase energy integration with Syria’s energy sector and Qatar’s investments will contribute to strengthen the country’s influence in the region,” he added.

Giorgio Cafiero, CEO of Gulf State Analytics, told Anadolu that it is in the common interests of Gulf countries to stabilize Syria, help protect the country’s territorial integrity, and ensure its longevity.

He highlighted that the Qatar-Türkiye natural gas pipeline project, proposed in the 2000s, could be back on the agenda when the situation in Syria stabilizes.

Cafiero added that the pipeline through Syria would strengthen regional energy cooperation and greatly contribute to reconstruction efforts.