- Syria exported 600,000 barrels of heavy crude from Tartus, its first official shipment since 2010.
- The oil was sold to B Serve Energy and transported on the tanker Nissos Christiana.
- U.S. sanctions were lifted in June, opening the door for American firms to support Syria’s energy sector.
- Syria signed an $800 million deal with DP World to develop and manage a multi-purpose terminal at Tartus.
Syria has resumed official oil exports for the first time in 14 years, sending 600,000 barrels of heavy crude from the port of Tartus on Monday under a deal with a trading firm. The country, which once exported around 380,000 barrels per day before the conflict in 2011, has seen its oil industry severely disrupted by years of war, as reported by Reuters.
Syria’s Oil Exports and Renewed Energy Strategy
Following the change in leadership last year, Syria has taken steps to revive its energy sector. On Monday, the country exported 600,000 barrels of heavy crude through the port of Tartus, sold to B Serve Energy, according to Syria’s energy ministry. The shipment was loaded on the tanker Nissos Christiana and marked the first official export in more than a decade.
Riyad al-Joubasi, assistant director for oil and gas at the ministry, said the crude was sourced from multiple Syrian fields, without disclosing their locations. Most of the country’s oil reserves are in the northeast, a region controlled by Kurdish-led authorities. While cooperation between Damascus and these authorities began earlier this year, relations have since cooled amid concerns about minority rights and political inclusivity.
The war left Syria’s oilfields contested, while international sanctions further restricted trade. Sanctions initially remained in place even after the ouster of former president Bashar al-Assad. However, in June, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order lifting restrictions on Syria, paving the way for American firms to design a master plan for oil and gas exploration and production.
In parallel, Syria signed an $800 million memorandum of understanding with DP World to develop and operate a multi-purpose terminal at Tartus. This agreement followed the cancellation of a previous contract with a Russian operator during the Assad era, signaling a shift in the country’s energy and port management strategy.
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Source: Reuters
