Syria's prolonged crisis has left its electricity infrastructure in ruins, with the ongoing civil war causing a significant decline in the country's energy resources.
Electricity generation has plummeted to less than 25% of pre-war levels, and the destruction of power plants, combined with difficulties in securing the necessary fuel, has resulted in total power generation falling to under 2,000 megawatts. With over 13 provinces relying on this limited supply, Syrians are facing daily power shortages that disrupt both daily life and the economy.
In Zamalka, a town in rural Damascus, residents have endured more than 13 years without government-provided electricity. With the power grid heavily damaged, people have resorted to private generators and solar power. However, these alternative solutions come at a steep cost. "The war has destroyed the power grid, which the government has not fixed, so people have started to connect cables from generators to their houses. But the problem is that people cannot afford it. It costs 50,000 to 60,000 Syrian pounds (about 3.9 to 4.6 USD) a week just to power one light bulb," said Bassam Qaddour, mayor of Zamalka.
The energy crisis is also severely affecting local businesses. In Zamalka, workshops are a vital part of the community, and Ibrahim Hajo, a blacksmith, shared the financial burden that power outages bring. "The cost of the final product is increasing. Before the war, I only had to pay my cost and the cost of raw materials. But now I have to add electricity, so the final cost is drastically increasing," Hajo explained. The blacksmith now spends over $600 per month on electricity from private generators to keep his business running.
Fuel shortages have also been a persistent issue, with smuggled gasoline bottles and gas cylinders flooding the streets of Damascus from neighboring countries. These fuel supplies, while necessary, are priced far above what most Syrians can afford. With an average household income of no more than $25 per month, residents like Yaser Khoder find the high prices unbearable. "The prices must be lowered. They are too expensive for the citizens regarding what they earn," Khoder said.
For the new government in Syria, addressing the energy crisis and ensuring affordable fuel access will be a significant challenge moving forward.Syria's prolonged crisis has left its electricity infrastructure in ruins, with the ongoing civil war causing a significant decline in the country's energy resources. Electricity generation has plummeted to less than 25% of pre-war levels, and the destruction of power plants, combined with difficulties in securing the necessary fuel, has resulted in total power generation falling to under 2,000 megawatts. With over 13 provinces relying on this limited supply, Syrians are facing daily power shortages that disrupt both daily life and the economy.
In Zamalka, a town in rural Damascus, residents have endured more than 13 years without government-provided electricity. With the power grid heavily damaged, people have resorted to private generators and solar power. However, these alternative solutions come at a steep cost. "The war has destroyed the power grid, which the government has not fixed, so people have started to connect cables from generators to their houses. But the problem is that people cannot afford it. It costs 50,000 to 60,000 Syrian pounds (about 3.9 to 4.6 USD) a week just to power one light bulb," said Bassam Qaddour, mayor of Zamalka.
The energy crisis is also severely affecting local businesses. In Zamalka, workshops are a vital part of the community, and Ibrahim Hajo, a blacksmith, shared the financial burden that power outages bring. "The cost of the final product is increasing. Before the war, I only had to pay my cost and the cost of raw materials. But now I have to add electricity, so the final cost is drastically increasing," Hajo explained. The blacksmith now spends over $600 per month on electricity from private generators to keep his business running.
Fuel shortages have also been a persistent issue, with smuggled gasoline bottles and gas cylinders flooding the streets of Damascus from neighboring countries. These fuel supplies, while necessary, are priced far above what most Syrians can afford. With an average household income of no more than $25 per month, residents like Yaser Khoder find the high prices unbearable. "The prices must be lowered. They are too expensive for the citizens regarding what they earn," Khoder said.
For the new government in Syria, addressing the energy crisis and ensuring affordable fuel access will be a significant challenge moving forward.
The United States has quietly approved a Qatari initiative to finance salaries for Syrian public-sector workers, marking a significant shift in Western engagement with post-Assad Syria, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
French President Emmanuel Macron will host Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Paris on Wednesday, marking the new Syrian leader’s first official visit to Europe since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad late last year.
Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a wide-ranging call covering Ukraine, Gaza, and Syria, with mutual pledges of cooperation and invitations exchanged.
Azerbaijan has reaffirmed its support for Syria’s recovery efforts through a high-level visit to Damascus, where officials explored new opportunities for cooperation and conveyed a message from President Ilham Aliyev to Syria’s interim leadership.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense on Thursday accused Hezbollah militias of firing artillery shells from Lebanese territory toward Syrian army positions in the al-Qusayr area west of Homs.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will visit Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Saturday to attend the Iran-Arab World Dialogue summit in Doha, as preparations continue for a possible fourth round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Oman over the weekend.
Armenia and Azerbaijan are now conducting direct peace talks without Russian mediation, according to Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan. He told Armenian media that Moscow’s mediating role has ended and that direct dialogue is now seen as more effective.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confidently announced that there will be no war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, emphasizing a shared commitment to a peaceful and prosperous future for the region.
Britain has imposed fresh sanctions on Russia, including asset freezes targeting directors of the oil trading firm Coral Energy Group, now known as 2Rivers Group.
Moscow is currently holding a Victory Day parade to mark 80 years since the end of the Great Patriotic War, with foreign delegations and military units participating.
India has fired a series of missiles into Pakistani-controlled territory, in what it has described as “Operation Sindoor”
For the first time in history, an American has been chosen to lead the Catholic Church, as Cardinal Robert Prevost is named pope.
Discover every major VE Day 80 event in Britain, 5‑8 May 2025—from London’s parade and fly‑past to street parties, concerts and museum exhibitions.
Chinese e-commerce platform Temu has announced it will no longer sell goods directly from China to U.S. customers, shifting instead to U.S.-based sellers amid the closure of a long-criticized customs loophole.
Cardinals from 70 nations have gathered in Vatican City to begin the historic conclave to elect the next pope, following the death of Pope Francis 17 days ago. This conclave is the most geographically diverse in Church history, showcasing Francis’ legacy of inclusivity.
Britain and Switzerland have signed an agreement to explore the creation of a direct rail connection between London and Switzerland, aiming to expand cross-border train travel beyond existing routes to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will visit Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Saturday to attend the Iran-Arab World Dialogue summit in Doha, as preparations continue for a possible fourth round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Oman over the weekend.
Britain has imposed fresh sanctions on Russia, including asset freezes targeting directors of the oil trading firm Coral Energy Group, now known as 2Rivers Group.
Moscow is currently holding a Victory Day parade to mark 80 years since the end of the Great Patriotic War, with foreign delegations and military units participating.
A helicopter crash in Sri Lanka has resulted in six fatalities, according to military sources cited by AFP on Friday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will visit Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Saturday to attend the Iran-Arab World Dialogue summit in Doha, as preparations continue for a possible fourth round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Oman over the weekend.
Armenia and Azerbaijan are now conducting direct peace talks without Russian mediation, according to Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan. He told Armenian media that Moscow’s mediating role has ended and that direct dialogue is now seen as more effective.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confidently announced that there will be no war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, emphasizing a shared commitment to a peaceful and prosperous future for the region.
Britain has imposed fresh sanctions on Russia, including asset freezes targeting directors of the oil trading firm Coral Energy Group, now known as 2Rivers Group.
Moscow is currently holding a Victory Day parade to mark 80 years since the end of the Great Patriotic War, with foreign delegations and military units participating.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment