DOHA (AFP) – Qatar has begun funding gas supplies to Syria from Jordan, state media in the Gulf state reported, as Damascus’ new leadership seeks economic relief.
“Qatar has started today providing… natural gas supplies to the Syrian Arab Republic through the territories of Jordan,” the official QNA news agency said.
“This initiative is aimed at addressing the severe electricity production shortage and improving infrastructure performance in the country.”
Syria’s authorities, who toppled Bashar al-Assad in December, are seeking to rebuild the country’s infrastructure and economy after almost 14 years of civil war.
Citing a statement by the Qatar Fund for Development, QNA reported the initiative “will generate up to 400 megawatts of electricity per day in the first phase, with production capacity set to increase gradually at the “Deir Ali station in Syria”.
The power would be distributed to provinces including the capital Damascus, its countryside, Sweida, Daraa, Quneitra, Homs, Hama, Tartus, Latakia, Aleppo and Deir Ezzor, QNA said.
Jordanian Energy Minister Saleh Kharabsheh told the official Petra news agency the initiative was “entirely funded” by the Qataris.
A source with knowledge of the deal explained a grant was provided by the Qatari fund “to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Jordan to supply natural gas” to Syria.
Syrian Electricity Minister Omar Shaqrouq confirmed the deliveries, telling state news agency SANA that they would “improve power supply and increase it by two to four hours a day”.
“These supplies will be transmitted through the Arab Gas Pipeline that passes through the territory of Jordan,” he added.
The Qatari move came on the orders of the emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, who in January became the first head of state to visit Damascus after Assad’s overthrow and vowed to support the rehabilitation of Syrian infrastructure.
