Syrian Minister of Energy Mohammad al-Bashir discussed on Tuesday with directors of provincial water institutions the implementation of water investment plans, the sustainability of water resources, and the challenges facing the sector across Syria, with the aim of developing a roadmap for a swift response to citizens’ needs.
The meeting, held at the General Water Administration building in Harasta, was attended by Deputy Minister for Water Resources Affairs Osama Abu Zaid and Director General of the General Authority for Water Resources Ahmad Kawan.
In his remarks, Minister al-Bashir highlighted the achievements made since the liberation, which he said reflect a genuine national will to overcome obstacles and continue constructive work despite the severe impacts of the years of war and destruction. He reaffirmed the Ministry of Energy’s commitment to achieving sustainable water development that meets citizens’ needs and responds to current climatic and economic challenges.
Al-Bashir noted that Syria is facing harsh climatic conditions and increasing drought, in addition to the widespread phenomenon of unregulated well drilling, stressing the need to confront these practices to preserve both surface and groundwater resources. He underlined that ensuring the sustainability of water resources is central to national development and water security.
In a statement to journalists following the meeting, the Ministry’s Director of Government Communication Ahmad Suleiman said that the minister had conducted a series of field visits and consultations with directors of electricity and water resource institutions in several provinces. These meetings, he said, aimed to evaluate progress achieved since the liberation and to address obstacles hindering the improvement of services provided to citizens.
Suleiman added that these efforts fall within the minister’s directives to raise performance efficiency and overcome difficulties, in order to gradually enhance infrastructure—particularly in the water and electricity sectors—and ensure the continuity of drinking water supply alongside the sustainability of national water resources.
For his part, Ahmad Kawan, Director General of the General Authority for Water Resources, said that the meeting reviewed the 2026 investment plan and discussed the progress of ongoing and planned projects, especially rainwater harvesting initiatives in light of climate change and declining rainfall rates.
The discussions also addressed the new draft water law, emphasizing the importance of issuing updated legislation to regulate unlicensed drilling operations that contribute to groundwater depletion. Kawan noted that a technical and legal committee has been formed to prepare and update the water legislation in preparation for its submission to the Ministry of Energy’s central committee for approval, ensuring optimal and sustainable management of Syria’s water resources.
