Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad visited today the city of Aleppo for the first time since its liberation from terrorist armed groups and inspected the thermal station in its eastern countryside.

Al-Assad also met with a number of experts, workers, and technicians, and monitored with them the launch of the work of the fifth turbines group of the thermal station after its rehabilitation. The group is expected to generate electric power with a capacity of 200 megawatts, to feed the province of Aleppo. 

President Al-Assad was also briefed on the ongoing rehabilitation work in the remaining four generating groups, which will also be put into service after the completion of repair and reconstruction works.

Al-Assad described the station's staff as "men of the field" and expressed his pride in their efforts, dedication, and sincerity, adding that "Aleppo governorate has suffered more as a result of terrorism and sabotage than other provinces, and therefore the people of Aleppo have the right to be the biggest beneficiaries of the station's reform."

President Al-Assad said, "Syria's workers are the second line on the front, reconstructing what has been destroyed by terrorism, and offering effort, sweat, and martyrs." He added, "The rehabilitation and restoration work at the Aleppo Thermal Power Station gives one message, which is that all obstacles and difficulties fall before the will and determination." 

فيديو حديث الرئيس الأسد لكوادر المحطة الحرارية في ريف حلب الشرقيhttps://t.co/pcWysqhjMy

— Syrian Presidency (@Presidency_Sy) July 8, 2022

The Syrian President was accompanied on the visit to the thermal station by Prime Minister Hussein Arnous, Electricity Minister Ghassan Al-Zamil, and Aleppo Governor Hussein Diab.

It is reported that 6 years ago, the Syrian Arab Army liberated the thermal station in the eastern countryside of Aleppo Governorate.

A  2017 report by the World Bank details the damage done to the Aleppo Thermal Power Plant.

The report said that the Aleppo Thermal Power Plant, which supplied energy to 60% of the city as of February 2017, had been deemed completely destroyed as a result of serious damage received in the previous several months.

One of the 16 transmission and distribution substations in Aleppo has been entirely destroyed, and 10 more have sustained partial damage. One power generating facility and four power transfer stations make up the Idlib energy infrastructure. Fighting, looting, and the removal of the facility's metal machinery and auxiliary facilities to be sold as scrap metal caused significant damage to the power plant.