Syria Resumes Oil Exports After Assad’s Ouster
DAMASCUS – Syria has restarted crude oil exports for the first time since the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad, with the new government promising to rebuild the country’s shattered economy.
Riyad al-Joubasi, assistant director for oil and gas at the Ministry of Energy, told Reuters that heavy crude was recently exported to B Serve Energy, a company linked to global oil trader BB Energy. The shipment was transported aboard the Nissos Christiana tanker.
The oil was extracted from several Syrian fields, though officials did not specify which ones. Most of Syria’s reserves are located in the northeast, an area controlled by Kurdish-led authorities. These groups began supplying oil to Damascus earlier this year, but relations have since strained over disputes on minority rights and political inclusion.
Before the outbreak of war in 2011, Syria exported around 380,000 barrels of oil per day, making petroleum one of its economic lifelines. However, years of conflict, shifting control of fields, and international sanctions crippled the sector.
Sanctions continued even after Assad was toppled in December last year, restricting both imports and exports. The situation changed in June when U.S. President Donald Trump lifted American sanctions, clearing the way for U.S.-based companies to draft a master plan for exploring and developing Syria’s oil and gas resources.
In a bid to attract further investment, the Syrian government has also signed an $800 million deal with DP World to develop and operate a multi-purpose terminal at Tartus port. The agreement replaces a previous contract with a Russian company that had managed the port during Assad’s rule.
The new leadership in Damascus sees the revival of the energy sector as key to stabilizing the economy and rebuilding infrastructure after nearly 14 years of war.
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