Kilis: Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, announced the completion of the natural gas pipeline connecting Kilis Province (Gub) in eastern Turkey to Aleppo, Syria. Testing is currently underway on the pipeline and additional equipment is being installed in preparation for gas exports within a few days.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Bayraktar said in a press statement today that his Ministry is working hard, in coordination with the new administration in Syria, to strengthen Turkish-Syrian relations, particularly in the energy sector, following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime. He pointed out that the Turkish side has sent technical teams to Syria several times, working to accurately identify energy infrastructure needs and develop related short-, medium-, and long-term projects.

He stated that these efforts have turned into tangible projects over the past five or six months, and they have begun to see their results. He stressed the need to provide electricity infrastructure to restore normal life in Syria, noting that Turkish experts have developed a project to transport natural gas to Syria for electricity generation.

The Turkish Energy Minister added, “We hope to begin exporting natural gas to Syria next June. This natural gas will be converted into electricity in power plants in Syria and used to meet the electricity needs of the population.” He indicated that they are working on projects related to strengthening Syria’s energy infrastructure in the long term, from transportation to distribution and electricity production.

He explained that Turkey aims to export two billion cubic meters of natural gas to Syria annually, and that they want to transport the natural gas, which will contribute to the production of 1,200-1,300 megawatts of electricity, first to Aleppo and from there to other provinces.