The memorandum of understanding expanding energy and mining cooperation between Türkiye and Syria was signed in Damascus, the Syrian capital. It was signed by MTA IC, an affiliated entity of the General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, and the Syrian General Directorate of Geology and Mineral Resources.
The memorandum aims to add the development of phosphate resources to joint work between the two countries. Plans are being prepared for phosphate production, the development of phosphate fields and the construction of a railway linking the fields to the port.
Phosphate fields and transport link
Speaking at a joint news conference after the signing ceremony, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar said energy and mining were important areas of cooperation between Türkiye and Syria.
Bayraktar said work would begin on a commercial agreement following the framework agreement and announced that efforts would also focus on bringing the iron mines around Aleppo into the economy, alongside the phosphate project.
Bayraktar said negotiations would be held on a commercial mining agreement and expressed their wish for more Turkish companies to take part in infrastructure projects. He said Türkiye's experience could be used in the construction of pipelines, electricity transmission lines, storage facilities and tanks.
Türkiye aims to increase electricity exports
Bayraktar said Turkish companies were continuing to invest in Syria in various areas, including electricity generation and transmission and infrastructure projects, adding that these activities were expected to expand.
Bayraktar said Türkiye had increased electricity supplies to support Syria's reconstruction and announced that electricity exports were targeted to nearly triple to 800-900 megawatts with the Birecik-Aleppo line, which is planned to become operational in the coming weeks. Daily electricity supply hours in Syria are expected to increase once the line begins operating.
Syrian Energy Minister Mohammed Bashir said a new transmission line supplying approximately 500 megawatts of energy to Aleppo and the surrounding area was planned to become operational by the end of September. Bashir said the line would contribute to the stability of energy supplies and improve public services, particularly electricity.
Oil, natural gas and geothermal energy
Bayraktar said there was also broad potential for cooperation between Türkiye and Syria in oil and natural gas. He said Turkish Petroleum was ready to work in Syria's offshore areas and in onshore fields where production is taking place, is expected to increase or where new discoveries may be possible.
Under this framework, seismic surveys will first be conducted, followed by drilling activities and partnerships with different companies. Bayraktar announced that concrete cooperation proposals would also be presented for onshore fields in the coming period.
Referring to Syria's geothermal energy potential, Bayraktar said they wanted to transfer Türkiye's experience in installed geothermal capacity to Syria. He said this work would contribute to Syria's reconstruction, development and stability in the region.
New production areas in mining
Bashir said they aimed to develop comprehensive cooperation with Türkiye in energy and mining. He said the signed memorandum of understanding would form the basis for mining cooperation and that work would also be carried out to establish sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid production facilities.
The work will also address areas including the rehabilitation of the phosphate transport fleet and phosphate imports.
