Syria’s ongoing fuel crisis, exacerbated by harsh winter conditions, has left millions of people struggling with fuel shortages, rising heating costs, and severe disruptions to transportation.Â
Syria’s key oil refineries— at Baniyas and Homs – remain non-operational, The New Arab’s sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported.
Ibrahim Muslem, director of the Baniyas refinery, previously told The Financial Times that the last batch of gasoline was produced there just after Bashar Al-Assad’s fall.
This loss of operational capacity, compounded by the decimation of Syria’s oil fields and infrastructure, has resulted in a sharp decline in production.
Before Syria’s conflict began in 2011, the country produced around 350,000 barrels per day, but by 2023, this had plummeted to just 91,000, a fraction of the country’s pre-conflict output.
Despite rumours of a potential revival of both the Baniyas and Homs refineries, neither has resumed production.
A spokesperson for the Syrian Petroleum Storage and Distribution Company (SADCOB) confirmed that Baniyas is still awaiting repairs, while the Homs refinery faces significant challenges, including a severe shortage of crude from domestic fields.
A possible oil revival?
The revival of Syria’s refineries is seen as a crucial step toward stabilising the country’s energy market and reducing fuel prices.
Economist Fadi Ayash told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed the operational restart of these refineries was a ‘real test’ for the interim government headed by de facto leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa’s, as it could secure necessary crude oil and facilitate the country’s economic recovery.
However, the quality of Syria’s domestic crude remains a challenge. Energy expert Elias Suleiman explained that Syria’s oil is heavy and produces primarily low-quality diesel and oils unsuitable for transportation.
To address this, Syria may need to negotiate oil exchanges with neighbouring countries, potentially improving fuel quality over the long term.
With Syria’s refineries facing delays in reopening, regional efforts to address the country’s energy crisis are gaining traction.
With strict international sanctions still in place, there have been calls for them to be lifted immediately, though this process could take several weeks or even months.Â
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar recently announced that Turkey is ready to collaborate with Syria’s new leadership on energy projects, including oil and natural gas.
Ankara also plans to provide electricity to parts of Syria lacking power and explore potential oil pipeline projects linking Syria with Turkey.
