Qatar is set to supply natural gas to Syria through Jordan, with approval from Washington, according to Reuters. Qatar, which was once a strong opponent of Bashar al-Assad, has shifted its stance to support the current Syrian government, formed by rebels who overthrew Assad. The gas will be transported from Jordan through a pipeline to Syria’s Deir Ali power plant in the south. This could add up to 400 megawatts to the country’s power grid, helping to alleviate the energy crisis. Qatar’s Charge d’affaires in Syria, Khalifa Abdullah Al Sharif, stated that the plan aims to increase Syria’s power production by an initial 400 MW, bringing the total capacity to around 4,000 MW.
Syria has been grappling with an energy shortage after Iraq suspended its crude oil deliveries to the country in December. Mustafa Sanad, an Iraqi member of parliament, confirmed the move shortly after Assad was ousted. Before the suspension, Syria imported approximately 120,000 barrels of crude oil daily from Iraq. Additionally, Iran has halted its oil supplies to Syria, exacerbating the fuel shortage. As a result, fuel prices have surged sharply in Syria during this transitional period.
In related news, the European Union is reportedly considering a deal to ease some sanctions on Syria’s energy sector. This would include lifting bans on importing Syrian crude oil and removing restrictions on energy-related technology and infrastructure projects. According to an internal EU document, the EU is also contemplating delisting groups like Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former Al-Qaeda affiliate, as terrorist organizations, though this decision would require UN Security Council approval before it can be implemented. HTS played a significant role in the downfall of Assad’s regime. Additionally, the EU is discussing the possibility of lifting restrictions on airlines, including Syrian Arab Airlines, to facilitate civilian flights between the EU and Syria.
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