DAMASCUS – Syrians are hopeful that a recent energy agreement with Turkey will ease the country’s electricity shortages after 14 years of civil war.
Under the deal signed on Thursday, Turkey will supply Syria with two billion cubic meters of natural gas annually and 1,000 megawatts of electricity.
Demand for power spikes during the summer months, when residents rely on air conditioners to cope with rising temperatures. Extended outages, which can last over 20 hours a day, have taken a toll on businesses and daily life.
“The decrease in electricity hours has negatively affected us,” Anas Kharate, an electronics repair technician in Damascus, told Rudaw. “No matter what alternatives we use, they are not like public electricity, which brings us more revenue. We hope the number of electricity hours will increase.”
The new energy deal comes as Syrian authorities, under the leadership of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, work to rebuild critical infrastructure in the country.
“The 24-hour electricity plan depends on several factors, including the maintenance of power generation plants and the electricity transmission line,” Ahmed Sulaiman, head of communications at the Syrian energy ministry, told Rudaw. There has been significant deterioration, but now, God willing, there will be complete maintenance and the installation of new meters.
The power grid, already fragile before the war, suffered extensive damage during the conflict, compounding the country’s economic struggles.
Syria is also seeking to attract foreign investment following announcements by the United States and the European Union earlier this month that they would lift economic sanctions.
In March, Qatar began funding gas deliveries to Syria via Jordan, aiming to support electricity production and infrastructure repair. Both Qatar and Turkey were among the first nations to restore diplomatic ties with the new Syrian leadership after Assad’s fall.