Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir held a press conference at the ministry’s headquarters in Damascus to address recent developments in the oil and petroleum products sector and outline a series of emergency measures now being implemented. The briefing was attended by Yousef Qablawi, chief executive of the Syrian Petroleum Company, as well as representatives of local and regional media.
During the conference, al-Bashir announced a package of practical measures approved following a meeting with President Ahmad al-Sharaa, intended to ease pressure on citizens while safeguarding the continued supply of petroleum products.
Global Market Pressures and Maintenance at Baniyas Refinery
Al-Bashir said rising prices on global markets had pushed up the cost of petroleum products. The pressure coincided with the Baniyas refinery being taken offline for a comprehensive and necessary overhaul after years of operation had taken their toll on its technical condition.
The maintenance programme includes the rehabilitation and replacement of key units and equipment, with the aim of improving efficiency and raising the refinery’s processing capacity to around 130,000 barrels a day.
The minister said the temporary shutdown had increased Syria’s dependence on imports of finished petroleum products at a time of sharply elevated global prices, adding further pressure to domestic supply costs. Recent price adjustments, he said, were therefore introduced as a temporary measure to secure continued supplies and meet local demand.
New Fuel Grades and Domestic Refining Measures
To ease these pressures, al-Bashir announced several alternatives, including the introduction of different grades of mazut, priced according to their specifications and intended use, replacing reliance on a single high-specification and costly product.
The measures include:
- Restarting Local Refineries: Several local electric refineries are to resume operations, with a combined crude-processing capacity of up to 35,000 barrels a day. They will operate under the management and supervision of the Syrian Petroleum Company and according to strict requirements governing safety, product quality and environmental protection.
- Subsidised Mazut for Heating and Agriculture: The entire mazut output of these local refineries will be allocated as a subsidised product priced at 115 Syrian pounds per litre. It will be designated for heating, agriculture and other eligible beneficiaries. Distribution will be coordinated by the Syrian Petroleum Company, provincial authorities and other relevant bodies to ensure that supplies reach the intended recipients.
- Industrial and Productive-Use Grade: An arrangement with friendly countries has secured another grade of mazut priced at 150 Syrian pounds per litre. It will be allocated for specified industrial, productive and service-sector uses, as well as heavy engineering machinery.
- Standard-Specification Grade: Standard-specification mazut will remain available at 175 Syrian pounds per litre, giving households and economic sectors a range of options according to their needs and purchasing capacity.
Al-Bashir said that once the Baniyas refinery returns to full operation, any subsequent decline in global prices or in shipping and insurance costs would be reflected directly in domestic prices through the Price Determination Committee.
He added that the ministry’s principal objectives were to maintain uninterrupted fuel supplies, expand domestic production, direct subsidies towards eligible users and reduce the financial burden on both households and productive sectors.
