President Ahmad al-Sharaa received a delegation from US energy company Chevron at the People’s Palace in Damascus on Tuesday, June 23. The delegation was headed by Frank Mount, Chevron’s head of corporate business development.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir and the chief executive of the Syrian Petroleum Company, Youssef Qablawi, according to a statement published by the Presidency of the Republic on its official platforms.
In a related development, Qablawi discussed with the Chevron delegation steps to turn the memorandum of understanding signed by the two sides on offshore exploration in Block 1 into an executive contract. The talks come as part of broader efforts to develop Syria’s exploration sector and attract international investment and expertise.
The Syrian Petroleum Company said on its Telegram channel that the meeting also addressed opportunities for cooperation on the Iraqi oil transport pipeline project across Syrian territory, from Kirkuk to Baniyas. The two sides discussed the possibility of Chevron contributing to the project as a strategic partner, as well as future prospects for cooperation in the oil and gas sector.
Qablawi had earlier announced that the company had received official confirmation from Chevron that it would proceed with offshore investment and exploration, a step that reflects a shift from understandings to practical implementation within a vision aimed at attracting major international companies.
Last February, the Syrian Petroleum Company signed a memorandum of understanding with Chevron International and Power International Holding for Syria’s first offshore field. The agreement, signed at the People’s Palace in Damascus, aims to support investment, exploration and oil and gas drilling in Syrian territorial waters, strengthen strategic partnerships in the energy sector and advance development efforts.
Late last year, President Sharaa held a preliminary meeting that brought together the Syrian Petroleum Company, SPC, and Chevron. The meeting discussed opportunities for cooperation in oil and gas exploration off the Syrian coast.
Attendees at the time included US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack, Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, SPC chief executive Youssef Qablawi, and a Chevron delegation that included Frank Mount, executive vice president for development, and Joe Koch, regional development manager. Also present were Moutaz al-Khayyat, chairman of UCC Holding, and its chief executive, Ramez al-Khayyat.
Chevron is a US multinational corporation and one of the world’s largest companies. It operates in the energy sector and is one of the successor companies to Standard Oil. Headquartered in San Ramon, California, it is active in more than 180 countries.
Chevron operates across oil and natural gas, hydrocarbon exploration and production, refining, marketing and transport, the manufacture and sale of chemicals, and power generation.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
