In some Syrian provinces there has been a gradual improvement in the crisis of supplies of gas cylinders for cooking, which worsened ahead of the month of Ramadan due to increased demand. The crisis was caused by a combination of adverse weather conditions that damaged port infrastructure, logistical problems with storage, and heightened seasonal demand. Authorities confirm that household gas deliveries continue, but acknowledge persistent difficulties with distribution.
Representatives of the Syrian oil company reported the arrival of a new tanker carrying nearly 2,000 tons of liquefied gas at the port of Baniyas, which raised the total volume of supplies since early February to about 14,600 tons. The Ministry of Energy said there are daily deliveries of about 350 tons from Jordan, which, however, are insufficient to cover the needs of all provinces. Authorities are urging citizens not to hoard and to beware of the black market, while strengthening inspection checks.
In Daraa province the crisis lasted about 13 days due to storms that delayed tanker unloading and depletion of stocks amid Ramadan demand. State supplies from Jordan, according to authorities’ estimates, can cover the needs of at most two provinces. Local gas fields and cylinder-filling lines are not operating at full capacity, which slows resolving the problem even when new batches of gas arrive.
In Aleppo the situation began to stabilize after frequent shutdowns of the gas bottling plant due to bad weather. Since last Thursday deliveries have resumed, and authorized distributors now receive about 30,000 cylinders a day. The crisis in the city has decreased by roughly 70%, although some distributors are reported to have taken advantage of the shortage to sell gas on the black market at inflated prices.
In Homs, where the crisis arrived later than in other regions, official prices at authorized centers remained at around $12 per cylinder. However, on the black market prices soared to 500,000 Syrian pounds per unit depending on demand. Public fears about future shortages have led to panic buying and attempts to hoard.
A final resolution of the crisis will take time. Authorities plan to increase storage capacity, but the key problem remains the low productivity of state-rehabilitated gas fields, which require lengthy rehabilitation. This means the path to real energy self-sufficiency and stable supplies will be gradual rather than instant.
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What is the role of the port of Baniyas in the Syrian economy and why is it critically important for importing resources such as liquefied gas? — The port of Baniyas is one of Syria’s two main commercial ports (the second is Latakia) and a key oil terminal. Before the war Syrian oil was exported through it. Today, given the devastated domestic energy sector and sanctions, it has become a vital “gateway” for importing fuel, including liquefied gas. Its strategic importance is due to the presence of specialized berths and storage facilities for receiving tankers, as well as the relative safety of the coastal zone compared to land borders. Without Baniyas the country would be virtually deprived of a legal channel for supplying critically needed fuel for power plants, industry, and household needs.
Why are state-rehabilitated gas fields in Syria still not operating at full capacity and what does their “lengthy rehabilitation” imply in local conditions? — Rehabilitated fields (for example, Shaer) are not operating at full capacity due to a combination of factors: physical damage to infrastructure during hostilities, chronic shortages of modern equipment and spare parts (exacerbated by international sanctions), a lack of qualified personnel, and ongoing security problems in some areas. “Lengthy rehabilitation” in the Syrian context implies not just well repairs but a multi-year process that includes demining territories, restoring compressor stations and pipelines, finding workarounds for financing and procurement around sanctions, and continuously adapting to limited resources and an unstable environment.
What are the historical or current political-economic reasons Syria depends on supplies of liquefied gas from Jordan to cover domestic shortfalls? — Dependence on Jordan is primarily due to practical necessity and geography. Historically relations were complicated, but after 2018 and the normalization of ties as part of Damascus’s “Arab rehabilitation,” Jordan became a logical and accessible supplier. Reasons: 1) Geographic proximity and infrastructure — existing pipelines and road routes allow relatively quick delivery. 2) Regional dynamics — Jordan, which receives its own gas from other sources (for example under an agreement with Israel), can act as a re-exporter to Syria. 3) Lack of alternatives — supplies from traditional allies (Iran, Russia) are often logistically or financially difficult, and legal imports via distant maritime routes are expensive and complicated by sanctions. Thus Jordan became a compromise, albeit imperfect, solution to cover acute shortages.
Full version: بوادر انفراجه تدريجية بأزمة الغاز المنزلي في سوريا