Qatar has begun supplying Syria with natural gas through Jordan, aiming to alleviate the energy crisis and power outages in the country, according to the Qatari News Agency (QNA).
In a statement released on Thursday, Qatar revealed that the initiative is part of an agreement signed with Jordan and is being implemented in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme.
Under the agreement, Qatar will provide natural gas deliveries to generate 400 megawatts of power daily and gradually increase the production of the Deir Ali power plant in Syria.
The electricity will be distributed to several Syrian cities, including the capital, Damascus, as well as Rif Dimashq, Suwaida, Daraa, Al Qunaitra, Homs, Hama, Tartus, Latakia, Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor.
“This initiative marks a significant step in meeting the energy needs of the Syrian population and reflects the shared commitment of all parties to cooperate for the benefit of the region” said Fahad Hamad Hassan Al-Sulaiti, the head of the Qatar Fund for Development.
The new authorities in Syria have faced difficulties in providing electricity to the civilian population since the removal of former President Bashar al-Assad in December, as a significant portion of the country’s infrastructure has been damaged by the over 13-year conflict.
Damascus previously obtained a substantial portion of the oil needed for power generation from Iran, but the deliveries were halted after the fall of Assad’s government.