Russia plans to help Damascus relaunch its energy industry which has been devastated by years of conflict, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on February 13, 2018.
«We have signed a roadmap, not only in the field of electricity, but also oil and gas, covering the restoration of oil fields and the development of new deposits,» said Alexander Novak. He did not name any Russian companies that may be involved.
Last week an agreement was signed on the «rehabilitation, modernisation and construction of new energy facilities in Syria» Russia’s energy ministry said on its website.
«We attach great importance to restoring the Syrian economy, especially the oil & gas sectors which will certainly contribute to the normalisation of the economic and social situation in the country,» said Novak.
In December a Russian business and political delegation visited Damascus to discuss investment and reconstruction with Bashar Assad, including oil & gas projects.
«Syria is a land of unlimited riches,» Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who led the delegation, said at the time. «Russian companies have the moral right to develop large-scale economic projects here,» Rogozin said then.
