Director General of the General Corporation for Electricity Transmission and Distribution in Syria, Khaled Abu Dey, said that his country will receive two electricity-generating ships from Turkey and Qatar to enhance the limited energy supply due to damage to the infrastructure during the era of ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted Abu Dey as saying that the two ships will generate 800 megawatts, “which is equivalent to half of what is currently generated in Syria, which will contribute to increasing the citizen’s share of electricity by approximately 50%.”
He added: “The extent of the damage to the generation and transmission stations and electrical connection lines during the period of the former regime is very large, and we are seeking to rehabilitate the generation stations and transmission lines so that the network is capable of transmitting energy.” Abu Dee did not clarify the date of the arrival of the two ships.
Temporary exemption
Yesterday, Monday, the United States issued an exemption from sanctions on transactions with ruling institutions in Syria for a period of 6 months. The exemption allows some energy transactions and personal transfers to Syria until the seventh of next July, but the measure did not lift any sanctions.
Syria suffers from a severe energy shortage, as the electricity provided by the state is only available for 2 or 3 hours a day in most areas, and the interim government says that it aims to provide electricity for 8 hours a day within two months.
Potential disaster
The US Treasury Department said that this move aims to “help ensure that sanctions do not impede basic services and that the government continues to perform its duties throughout Syria, including providing electricity, energy, water, and sanitation.”
The Treasury Department defines Syria’s governing institutions as government-run departments, agencies and providers of public services, including hospitals, schools and facilities, at the federal, regional or local level, and entities partnering with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham across Syria.
The procedure also authorizes transactions to support the sale, supply, storage or donation of energy, including oil and electricity, to or within Syria.
Syrian Trade Minister Maher Khalil al-Hassan said yesterday that Damascus is unable to conclude deals to import fuel, wheat or other basic goods due to strict US sanctions despite the desire of many countries, including Gulf Arab states, to do so.
He added that Syria faces a “disaster” if sanctions are not frozen or lifted soon.
