Azerbaijani gas to be delivered to Syria under new swap deal

Türkiye's Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, Ankara, Türkiye, September 14, 2023.
Reuters

Azerbaijan will begin supplying 6 million cubic metres of gas to Syria this week under a swap deal with Türkiye, officials said, aiming to boost electricity generation in the war-torn country.

Türkiye’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Wednesday that gas exported from Azerbaijan would be transferred via the Turkish border province of Kilis to Syria, including to Damascus.

A ceremony marking the first delivery will be held in Kilis on Saturday, with officials from Azerbaijan, Syria and Qatar expected to attend.

Bayraktar said the gas would allow Syria to produce about 1,200 megawatts of electricity a day, which could increase power availability from the current three to four hours daily to around 10 hours.

Electricity shortages have been a chronic issue in Syria, where years of conflict have devastated infrastructure and left large parts of the population without reliable power.

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