Turkey moves into Syria oil and gas sector with exploration plans

The Turkish state oil company, TPAO, will commence seismic surveys and exploration for oil and gas in Syria, according to Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar. This move comes as Syria seeks foreign capital to revitalize its energy sector, which has suffered significantly due to the 14-year civil war. TPAO is equipped to begin work immediately on both onshore and offshore blocks, as announced at a joint press conference in Damascus.

Turkish officials have demonstrated a strong interest in Syria's reconstruction, surpassing any other foreign government's engagement since the Assad regime's fall in December 2024. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has cultivated close ties with Syria's new President, Ahmad Al Shara, positioning Turkey as a dominant player in the country's economic and political transition.

This announcement solidifies Syria's position among the expanding list of territories for Turkey's state oil driller, which is currently developing an exploration well off the coast of Somalia and recently secured a license for offshore blocks in Libya. The Turkish energy company holds the capacity to commence operations in Syria's onshore and offshore blocks immediately.

Syria once held a prominent position as a significant oil and gas producer in the eastern Mediterranean, but its industry has collapsed by approximately 80% from a prewar peak of 380,000 barrels a day due to the ongoing conflict. The Syrian Energy Ministry reported that crude production reached 14.8 million barrels in the first half of 2026, equivalent to about 82,000 barrels a day.

The Syrian government estimates that it requires over $30 billion to rehabilitate the energy sector, presenting a substantial opportunity for foreign energy companies. Gulf energy firms, including Adnoc Drilling, are also exploring opportunities in Syria, alongside Egypt and Iraq. Syria has already secured agreements with ConocoPhillips in partnership with Novaterra, a venture backed by Syrian-British billionaire Ayman Al Asfari, and with the UAE's Dana Gas following the lifting of US sanctions last year.

These investments aim to create a more robust energy infrastructure, with Turkey and Syria planning to commission new infrastructure that will triple electricity transmission capacity between the two nations to over 800 megawatts. Additionally, Turkey's state mining company, MTA, has signed a non-binding agreement regarding phosphate resources with Syria's general directorate of mineral resources, which could potentially lead to a joint venture.

The Turkish Energy Ministry reported that Syria's domestic energy sector has shown early signs of recovery, with 152 wells returned to production, 10 new wells brought online, and 21 others repaired. The Amrit offshore rig resumed operations, and a main pumping station in Homs restarted after a 12-year inactivity. The Dabousiya gas station is also prepared to resume gas transfers to Lebanon.