Qatar plans to supply natural gas to Syria via Jordan, aiming to improve electricity access amidst ongoing infrastructural challenges. The agreement is also viewed as a preliminary step toward facilitating broader gas pipeline connections to Europe. While U.S. support exists, significant issues remain regarding Syria’s electricity grid and operational capacity.
Qatar is set to supply natural gas to Syria via Jordan, as reported by various news sources. This initiative, tied to Syria’s dire electricity shortage, is framed as support for the new leadership in Damascus, which recently displaced the regime of Bashar al-Assad amidst a decade-long conflict. Qatar’s involvement is seen as a crucial step in facilitating future gas pipeline connections from Qatar to Europe, exploiting Syria’s infrastructure for broader energy ambitions.
Recent reports indicate that Qatar’s development fund and Jordan’s energy ministry have formally signed an agreement to deliver natural gas through the Arab Gas Pipeline. This pipeline will connect to Syria’s Deir Ali power plant, increasing its output by up to 400 megawatts per day, with potential gradual increments, helping to alleviate current power production issues.
Despite Trump’s administration’s tacit approval of the deal, it raises questions given the U.S. interest in LNG exports to Europe. The Jordanian energy minister noted that funding for this gas supply will be entirely covered by Qatar’s grant, with gas being transported from Jordan’s Red Sea port of Aqaba.
Operational challenges remain; Syria’s electricity grid is badly damaged and requires substantial repairs. Currently, state electricity supply is limited to two to three hours daily due to the loss of oil supplies from Iran after regime changes. Though Jordan has received U.S. permission for temporary electricity supply, additional fixes to the infrastructure are critical for facilitating this support.
Western diplomats highlight Qatar’s desire to aid Syria’s new administration effectively. Yet, anticipation around the project’s phases offers insight into Qatar’s broader goals of establishing direct links from its North Field natural gas reserves to European markets, leveraging the situation in Syria as a springboard for energy transit expansion.
The natural gas agreement between Qatar and Syria, facilitated via Jordan, marks a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern energy politics. This initiative aims to address Syria’s severe electricity shortages while positioning Qatar to enhance its gas exports to Europe. However, logistical and infrastructural challenges pose significant hurdles. Meanwhile, U.S. tacit approval and the geopolitical dynamics signal a continued interest in evolving relations within the region, pointing to potential shifts in energy supply chains.
Original Source: oilprice.com
