Energy Minister addresses Syrian parliament without mentioning any change in fuel prices

During a parliamentary hearing, Energy Minister Mohammed Al-Bashir presented an overview of Syria’s energy sector, addressing oil and gas production, refining capacity, the scale of domestic demand, as well as the condition of refineries and infrastructure and the challenges facing the sector.

The minister’s parliamentary hearing comes at a time when Syria is witnessing rising prices for petroleum products, accompanied by objections and protests over the impact of the new prices on the costs of transportation, goods, and services.

Al-Bashir said that Syria has 78 oil fields and currently produces around 112,000 barrels per day, compared with approximately 140,000 barrels previously. He added, “The country relies on importing additional quantities of oil and petroleum products to meet its needs.”

Refining capacity stands at around 150,000 barrels per day, while the volume of imported petroleum products is approximately 150,000 barrels per day, according to figures he presented before Parliament.

Regarding the gas sector, the minister said domestic production had increased from around 6 million cubic meters to 8 million cubic meters per day, while the country’s needs amount to approximately 24 million cubic meters per day.

He added that “Syria imports around 6.3 million cubic meters of gas per day, at an estimated cost of approximately $140 million per month, from Azerbaijan and from a vessel at the Jordanian port of Aqaba.”

Al-Bashir noted that the ministry had temporarily shut down a number of oil wells in order to rehabilitate them. He also said that a committee had been formed to study the country’s oil reserves and prepare a new map of oil and gas sites.

Refineries and Infrastructure

Regarding refineries, Al-Bashir said that “the Baniyas Refinery underwent comprehensive maintenance, while the Homs Refinery continues to operate despite its technical condition, until new refineries are established.”

He also discussed a project to complete the Arab Gas Pipeline coming from Jordan, noting that “its estimated cost is approximately $250 million and that its implementation is being financed by the Syrian Petroleum Company.”

The minister proposed the use of electric refineries as one of the options under consideration for securing petroleum products, amid the difficulties facing the sector.

Daily Needs

Al-Bashir estimated Syria’s daily requirements for petroleum products at around 12 million liters of diesel, 8 million liters of gasoline, and 8,500 tons of fuel oil used in power-generation plants and industry, in addition to approximately 1,300 tons of household gas.

He noted that industrial electricity consumption accounts for around 40% of total consumption, stressing the importance of maintaining electricity supplies to industrial facilities.

Challenges and Future Plans

The minister identified the main challenges facing the sector as the absence of comprehensive databases, difficulties in securing crude oil and spare parts, the need for foreign currency, and the requirements of rehabilitating infrastructure.

He said the ministry is working to conclude agreements with oil-producing countries to secure the country’s needs until domestic production increases, alongside plans to drill new gas wells in order to raise production.

The minister did not address the pricing of petroleum products, which has triggered widespread protests across the country that are still continuing in several areas.

ANHA