Saudi Arabian energy firms signed an agreement and six memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Syria’s Ministry of Energy during the Damascus International Fair, marking a broad push into the war-torn country’s power and hydrocarbons sector, officials said.
The accords, signed under the auspices of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy, cover renewable power, oil and gas development, electricity infrastructure and technical capacity building. They are the latest sign of strengthening ties between Riyadh and Damascus following recent moves to expand bilateral cooperation in energy and infrastructure.
Saudi renewable energy developer ACWA Power reached an agreement with Syria’s Ministry of Energy to conduct studies and submit proposals for new renewable projects. These include solar and storage systems with a combined capacity of up to 1,000 megawatts and wind projects with up to 1,500 megawatts of capacity. The agreement also covers assessments of Syria’s existing power plants, proposals for rehabilitation and upgrades, and technical studies on the national grid to determine the country’s optimal energy mix.
Six additional MoUs were signed across a wide range of energy activities, including exploration and development of gas fields, drilling, natural gas processing and conversion, geophysical and geological surveys, seismic data acquisition, and research in geosciences. The agreements also include commitments to enhance Syria’s technical capacity through training and technology transfer.
TAQA and ADES Holding signed two MoUs to provide integrated solutions for oil and gas field development and management, while Arabian Drilling Company signed a separate memorandum covering oilfield services such as drilling, maintenance and training. Arabian Geophysical and Surveying Company (ARGAS) signed an MoU for geophysical and geological surveys.
In the power sector, Saudi Electricity Company signed an MoU covering electricity generation, transmission and distribution, as well as technical and consulting support. The Saudi Electricity Projects Development Company signed another MoU focused on engineering and consulting services for electricity transmission and distribution projects.
Officials from both countries said the agreements reflect closer bilateral relations and follow a recent intergovernmental memorandum of understanding to expand cooperation in oil and gas, petrochemicals, electricity grid interconnection and renewable energy.
