Damascus, Feb. 10 (SANA) Chargé d’Affaires of the Japanese Embassy in Damascus Akihiro Tsuji and Acting Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Syria Mohammed Mudawi on Tuesday signed memoranda for a Japanese grant to Syria worth 1.952 billion yen—about $12.4 million—to implement a project entitled “Stabilization of Power Supply in Conflict Affected Areas”.
According to a statement by Syria’s Ministry of Energy on Telegram, the memoranda aim to rehabilitate Units 1 and 2 at the Jandar Power Plant in Homs province central Syria, ensuring the stable supply of around 540 megawatts to the national grid. The project is expected to help improve electricity provision in Damascus, Rural Damascus, Homs, Hama and Deir Ezzor provinces.
Under the agreement, the Japanese government will finance the project, while UNDP will oversee its implementation in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy over a 24-month period.
Deputy Minister of Energy for Electricity Affairs Omar Shaqrouq expressed the ministry’s appreciation to the Japanese government for the grant, noting that it covers comprehensive maintenance works at the plant, detailed technical assessments to identify priorities, procurement and installation of original spare parts, supervision of overhaul operations, and training for engineers and technicians.
Shaqrouq stressed that the project will enhance the efficiency and reliability of the power grid while strengthening national capacities in operation and preventive maintenance.
Since 2014, Japan has provided more than US$35 million to support electricity supply in Syria by rehabilitating three major power plants, adding 235 MW of generation capacity and reducing losses by around 1,000 MW.
