Syria's energy crisis: power outages, fuel shortages, and rising costs

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.

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