Qatar has started delivering natural gas to Syria through Jordan, addressing the country’s severe electricity shortages and power outages, according to state news agency QNA.
In a Thursday statement, Qatar announced that this initiative is part of an agreement signed with Jordan in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme.
The deal will provide natural gas supplies “generating power from 400 megawatts of electricity daily and gradually increase production at the Deir Ali power plant in Syria.”
This electricity will be distributed to numerous Syrian cities, including Damascus, Rif Dimashq, As Suwayda, Daraa, Al Qunaitra, Homs, Hama, Tartous, Latakia, Aleppo, and Deir ez-Zur.
Fahad Hamad Hassan Al-Sulaiti, who heads the Qatar Fund for Development, described the initiative as “a pivotal step towards meeting the Syrian people’s energy needs and reflects a shared commitment among all parties to work together for the benefit of the region,” QNA reported.
Syria’s interim authorities have faced significant challenges providing electricity to civilians since they removed former President Bashar al-Assad in December. The country’s infrastructure has been severely damaged by more than 13 years of civil war.
Damascus previously relied on Iran for much of the oil used in power generation, but these supplies were cut following al-Assad’s removal from power.
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