RIYADH: Azerbaijan will export 1.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually to Syria through Turkiye, marking a significant shift in regional energy cooperation and highlighting Ankara’s growing involvement in Syrian reconstruction.
The gas will be sourced from the Shah Deniz field in the Caspian Sea, operated by a BP-led consortium, and transported through a pipeline linking Turkiye and Syria, according to SOCAR Vice President Elshad Nasirov. He made the remarks during a ceremony in Kilis, a Turkish city near the Syrian border.
The export deal follows agreements earlier this year between Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, Azerbaijan’s Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov said, as reported by Reuters.
The development comes as Turkiye moves to normalize ties with the Damascus government, pivoting from its previous support for opposition groups. Turkish companies in construction, logistics, and manufacturing are expected to play a leading role in rebuilding Syria, where damage estimates top $1 trillion, according to the UN.
“With this agreement, Azerbaijan proves it can supply gas not only westward, but also to the East and South,” Nasirov said.
Syrian Energy Minister Mohammad Al-Bashir said the new gas supply will boost electricity generation by about 750 megawatts, providing an additional four hours of daily electricity in several war-affected areas.
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said the deal targets initial daily deliveries of 6 million cubic meters, aligning with the 1.2 bcm annual goal. He added the first phase could expand to 2 bcm per year, enough to restart Syrian power plants with a total capacity of 1,200 MW.
However, Al-Bashir noted the initial phase will begin with 3.4 million cubic meters per day, with gradual increases. He emphasized the gas would directly support energy restoration in the country’s most devastated regions.
In a joint press conference in May, Bayraktar said the agreement could eventually power up to 1,300 MW of electricity generation.
