Egypt Explores Export of Electricity to Syria: A Conditional Project Dependent on Security and Political Stability
Welat TV - Erbil
Egypt's Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mahmoud Ismat, announced that the country is considering exporting electricity to Syria through Jordan, subject to the stabilization of security and political conditions in Damascus.
Ismat made the statement during the conference of Arab electricity ministers held in Cairo on Monday, 2 December 2024, in the presence of Syrian Minister of Electricity Sanjar Tu'ma.
The Egyptian minister stressed that the project is still at the preliminary study stage and that its implementation depends on the stabilization of the internal situation in Syria, which is a critical factor for its feasibility.
Syria asks for Egyptian support
For his part, Syria's Minister of Electricity Sanjar Tu'ma called on Egypt to support Syria's electricity sector. He stressed the importance of providing opportunities for Arab companies to operate in various electricity-related fields in Syria.
This request comes amid significant challenges facing the Syrian electricity sector, which has been severely affected by the destruction of war and the impact of economic sanctions.
Past Electricity Projects: Ambitions and Obstacles
Since 2021, discussions have centered on two major projects to supply electricity to Lebanon through Syrian territory:
The Arab Gas Pipeline connecting Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
The Jordan-Lebanon electricity interconnection project through Syria.
Despite the importance of these initiatives, their progress has been hampered by the lack of official exemptions from U.S. sanctions under the Caesar Act, a significant barrier to their advancement.
-Severe Damage and High Demand
Jaber Asi, Director General of the Public Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company in Syria, stated that it would take at least a decade for the electricity grid to return to its optimal condition in terms of hours of power supply.
Most areas under the control of the Syrian regime are experiencing increasing power outages. In Damascus, electricity is available for only one hour, compared to eight hours of blackouts. Meanwhile, some parts of rural Damascus and other provinces have experienced total blackouts for several consecutive days in the past ten days.
According to a 2021 research study by Sinan Hatahet and Karam Shaar, the average Syrian's electricity consumption has dropped to just 15% of what it was in 2010, reflecting the scale of the crisis in Syria's electricity sector.
The cost of destruction: Staggering Losses to Syria's Electricity Grid
Ghassan Zamel, Syria's former Minister of Electricity, revealed that the direct damage to Syria's electrical infrastructure due to the war amounted to approximately $40 billion, while indirect losses exceeded $80 billionaire also cited the shortage of oil derivatives as a key reason for the ongoing electricity crisis, in addition to the extensive destruction of the country's electricity infrastructure.