Damascus, Jan. 26 (SANA) The resumption of crude oil flows from northeastern Syria to state-run refineries marks more than a technical restart of production. It signals a significant strategic shift in the government’s control over energy resources after more than a decade during which most of the country’s oil and gas infrastructure had been outside state authority.
On Sunday, January 25, the Syrian Petroleum Company announced the arrival of the first official shipment of crude oil from al-Omar and al-Tanak fields in Deir Ezzor province to Baniyas refinery. The convoy of 20 tanker trucks represents the first state-managed oil transfer since Syrian government forces reasserted control over the area from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Company officials said technical teams are now overseeing extraction, loading, and transportation operations across several fields, including al-Omar, al-Taym, al-Thawra, and Jbessa, as part of a broader plan to reintegrate the assets into Syria’s national energy system.
Production Outlook and Domestic Demand
According to estimates from the Syrian Petroleum Company, output from the recovered fields could reach approximately 100,000 barrels per day within four months, provided rehabilitation efforts proceed as planned.
This figure is significant given that Syria’s domestic consumption needs, based on official pre-war data, ranged between 150,000 and 200,000 barrels per day under normal conditions. If achieved, the new production level would cover a substantial portion of local demand and reduce reliance on imported fuel a major strain on state finances amid foreign currency shortages.
Before 2011, Syria produced roughly 385,000 barrels per day, much of it from fields in the northeast. During the war, production fell to 30,000–40,000 barrels per day, forcing the country to rely heavily on imported petroleum products.
Gas Supplies and the Power Sector
The recovery of gas infrastructure may have even more immediate implications for Syria’s electricity sector. The Syrian Petroleum Company has begun pumping natural gas from Jbessa fields in Hasakah province to the Furqlus gas processing plant near Homs at a rate of approximately 1.2 million cubic meters per day, operating at 35 bar via the Kouniko and Markada stations.
Although modest, this increase comes amid severe shortages. Government data for 2025 indicate that Syria requires roughly 23 million cubic meters of gas per day, in addition to about 5,000 tons of fuel oil daily, to provide continuous electricity nationwide. The new supplies could help increase electricity production.
Particular attention is focused on Kouniko gas plant in Deir Ezzor, once the country’s largest gas processing facility, with a pre-war capacity of approximately 13 million cubic meters per day. Its gradual return to service could significantly narrow the gap between supply and demand, though full rehabilitation will require considerable time and investment.
In addition to gas infrastructure, the Euphrates Dam, recently regained by the government from the SDF, is a critical piece of Syria’s water and energy system. Its hydroelectric station contains eight generating units, each capable of producing 110 megawatts, supplying electricity to much of the region. The dam will further reinforce the government’s ability to maintain power supply nationwide.
Strategic Importance Beyond Production
The oil and gas fields recently brought back under state control hold strategic significance not only for production but also for restoring the government’s authority over wells and efficiently managing national transportation and distribution networks.
The recovery of al-Omar field, the largest in the country, represents a key step in reviving oil output. Before the war, the field produced roughly 80,000 barrels per day; current production is estimated at around 20,000 barrels per day following years of depletion and unregulated extraction.
Economic and Financial Implications
Bringing oil and gas back into the formal state framework channels revenues directly into the public treasury rather than leaking into the shadow economy or smuggling networks. This allows the government to fund part of its expenditures and eases pressure on foreign currency reserves.
Before the war, the energy sector accounted for approximately 20% of Syria’s GDP and over 50% of state revenues. Since 2011, much of this income has been lost, and a full recovery depends on rehabilitating infrastructure that suffered extensive damage. International estimates place sector losses at more than $115 billion during the war years.
The Syrian government’s return to control over oil and gas wells in Jazira region marks a pivotal moment with significant economic and political implications. It restores the state’s authority over a vital economic and sovereign lifeline, opens the door to reducing energy deficits, improves electricity supply, and supports gradual economic recovery.
Abdul.A
