Qatar dismisses rumors of gas exports to Europe via Syria, Turkiye

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
7 Jan 2025 22:58
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The Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson says Doha's priority remains maintaining stability in Syria and addressing the needs of its people.

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This undated file photo shows a Qatari liquid natural gas (LNG) tanker ship being loaded up with LNG, made up mainly of methane, at Raslaffans Sea Port, northern Qatar. (AP)

Reports suggesting the potential for Qatar to export its natural gas to Europe via Syria and Turkiye are mere rumors, pointed out Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed bin Mohammed al-Ansari.

"We have all seen the speculation in the media about this gas pipeline. It is nothing but media speculation," he said when asked by TASS about the prospects of constructing a pipeline through Syria and Turkiye to supply natural gas to Europe.

"We in Qatar are determined to support the Syrian people in terms of humanitarian and technical assistance, as is the case with Damascus International Airport, and also discuss all kinds of technical assistance [to rebuild] infrastructure," added al-Ansari, who also serves as an advisor to the prime minister.

"On the economic level, as far as gas supplies are concerned, we cannot say anything on this issue."

He further noted that Qatar's priority remains maintaining stability in Syria and addressing the needs of its people.

The idea of a Qatar-Turkiye pipeline has been under discussion since 2009, but according to Ankara, its implementation faced opposition from the previous Syrian government.

On January 4, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated that Qatari gas could potentially reach Europe through Turkiye, provided a secure transportation system is established in Syria and the region achieves stability.

As the world's third-largest holder of natural gas reserves and the sixth-largest producer, Qatar plays a significant role in global energy markets.

According to the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, Qatar became the third-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas in November 2024, trailing only the United States and Australia.

Qatar and Turkiye to supply Syria with electricity-generating ships

In a related context, the state-owned Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported on Tuesday that Syria is set to receive two electricity-generating ships from Turkiye and Qatar to address severe energy shortages caused by extensive infrastructure damage during President Bashar al-Assad's tenure.

Khaled Abu Dai, director general of the General Establishment for Electricity Transmission and Distribution, told SANA that the ships would generate a combined 800 megawatts of electricity, but did not specify the duration of their deployment.

"The extent of damage to the generation and transformation stations and electrical connection lines during the period of the former regime is very large. We are seeking to rehabilitate (them) in order to transmit energy," Abu Dai stated. However, he did not indicate when the ships would arrive in Syria.

The United States announced Monday a six-month sanctions exemption for transactions with Syrian governing institutions following the ousting of al-Assad, aiming to facilitate humanitarian aid.

The exemption, effective until July 7, permits certain energy-related transactions and personal remittances to Syria but does not lift any existing sanctions.

Syria continues to face acute power shortages, with state electricity available for only two to three hours daily in most areas. The caretaker government has pledged to increase electricity supply to up to eight hours a day within two months.