Damascus, April 6 (SANA) – President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued Legislative Decrees No. 44, 45, and 46 of 2026 , establishing new state-owned entities to manage and develop Syria’s mining, electricity, and water sectors.
The decrees establish the Syrian Mining Company (SMC) and the Syrian Electricity Company (SEC), in addition to creating a General Establishment for Drinking Water and Sanitation tasked with overseeing water services nationwide.
The newly established entities will operate under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy as independent corporate bodies, possessing financial and administrative autonomy with their headquarters located in Damascus.
Development of Mineral Resources
Decree No. 44 establishes the Syrian Mining Company (SMC), which is tasked with the comprehensive management and investment of the country’s mineral wealth. The company will assume the assets, facilities, and mines previously managed by the General Establishment of Geology and Mineral Resources.
While the Ministry of Energy will retain authority over the national mining registry and geological data, the SMC is granted regulated access to these resources for operational purposes. The move aims to create a more efficient investment climate, improve governance, and align Syrian mining operations with international transparency standards to attract both domestic and foreign capital.
Restructuring the Power Sector
Under Decree No. 45, the Syrian Electricity Company (SEC) is established to replace the Public Establishment for Generation and the Public Establishment for Transmission and Distribution of Electricity. The SEC will assume all rights, obligations, and contracts of these former institutions.
The restructuring is designed to enhance the efficiency of the national power grid and bolster Syria’s competitiveness in regional energy markets. The decree authorizes the SEC to establish subsidiary firms, manage state-owned energy assets, and enter into partnership agreements with international firms to modernize electricity infrastructure.
Reforming the Water and Sanitation Sector
Decree No. 46 establishes the General Establishment for Drinking Water and Sanitation as an economic public institution responsible for supervising water supply and wastewater services across Syria.
The decree provides for the creation of public water and sanitation companies in each governorate, which will replace the existing water institutions and affiliated companies while assuming their assets, contracts, and obligations.
The new structure aims to strengthen strategic planning, enhance service efficiency, and improve governance in the management of water resources and sanitation infrastructure, while ensuring compliance with national and international health and environmental standards.
Governance and Transition
The Syrian Mining Company and Syrian Electricity Company will be governed by boards of directors comprising sector specialists and representatives from the ministries of Finance, Economy, and Industry, and will be led by Chief Executive Officers.
The decrees stipulate a smooth transition of human resources, ensuring that employees from the previous establishments retain their rights and positions within the new institutional structures.
Additionally, the newly established entities will benefit from exemptions from establishment fees and taxes to facilitate their initial operations and support expansion plans, including the potential to establish branches inside and outside Syria.
Kh.A
