Syrian Transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued Decree No. 175 of 2025 establishing a public company in Syria named the “General Electricity Generation Company” in Deir Ali (Damascus countryside). The company will have legal personality, financial and administrative independence, and will be headquartered in Damascus countryside, linked to the relevant authority.

The decree, issued on Tuesday evening, September 2, defined the company’s tasks as follows:

• Generating electricity according to economic standards and technical regulations.

• Operating facilities and equipment under the ministry’s general plans.

• Developing and implementing periodic and general maintenance programs for all facilities and equipment.

• Preparing studies and drafting plans to improve operations in line with the ministry’s strategies.

• Carrying out all tasks assigned by the authority.

The company’s nominal capital was set at 29,808,502,160 Syrian pounds (29.8 billion), equivalent to about $2.98 million.

The capital will consist of:

The company will assume the authority’s responsibilities in implementing its designated tasks, including:

According to the decree, permanent employees at the Deir Ali power plant are transferred by law to the new company with the same jobs, grades, and salaries, while retaining seniority for promotion. They will form part of the company’s provisional staff.

Temporary and contract workers of the authority will continue under the same terms until their contracts expire or are renewed in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Creation of the Ministry of Energy

President al-Sharaa also issued Decree No. 150 of 2025 establishing a Ministry of Energy in Syria, with legal personality, financial and administrative independence, and headquartered in Damascus.

The decree stated that the ministry aims to integrate efforts, improve performance, and ensure optimal delivery of essential services.

The new ministry replaces the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Electricity, and the Ministry of Water Resources, assuming all their rights and obligations. The name “Ministry of Energy” will substitute the three former ministries in all laws, decrees, and existing regulations.

The decree also clarified that the staffing of the merged ministries will form a single roster for the Ministry of Energy. The energy minister will reassign permanent employees within the unified structure while preserving their pay, seniority, and acquired rights. Temporary, seasonal, contracted, and delegated staff will maintain their current positions and salaries.

A new “department and branch” for the Ministry of Energy will be created in the state budget, unifying the budgets of the merged ministries. The new ministry will be tasked with drafting the necessary legal framework for its organization.

Merging Ministries

The Syrian government lineup announced in late March included 23 ministers, reducing the number of ministries compared to the previous government under the former Syrian regime.

The last cabinet in August 2024 had 29 ministries, but al-Sharaa merged several (including the Ministry of Energy) and created two new ones: the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Emergency and Disasters.

According to a report by the Harmoon Center for Contemporary Studies on April 2, this reduction from 29 to 23 ministries through mergers reflects not only an organizational approach but also a practical response to resource shortages and financing challenges. Cutting government expenditures was deemed essential given the weakness of the general budget and difficulties in securing external aid under continuing sanctions.

The report noted that while the mergers may reduce operational costs and increase efficiency, they could also place additional burdens on ministers now handling dual portfolios, amid limited administrative staff and complex bureaucracy.