Turkey to Start Supplying Azeri Gas to Syria on Saturday

Turkey is set to begin exporting natural gas to Syria this weekend, marking a significant step in regional energy cooperation and Syria’s post-war recovery. The announcement came on Wednesday from Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, who confirmed that deliveries would start Saturday.

Rebuilding Syria’s Fragile Infrastructure

Following over a decade of civil war that devastated much of Syria’s infrastructure, the newly established Islamist authorities — who ousted former president Bashar al-Assad in December — are now attempting to rebuild essential services, particularly in energy and electricity. Years of conflict have crippled the country’s power grid, resulting in widespread outages that often last more than 20 hours per day.

To address the energy shortage, Turkey will begin channeling natural gas sourced from Azerbaijan into northern Syria. Specifically, the gas will be routed to Aleppo through Turkey’s Kilis province, which lies just across the Syrian border. The strategic location of Kilis makes it an ideal entry point for cross-border energy cooperation.

Deal Solidified Through Regional Ties

The groundwork for this energy partnership was laid earlier this year. In May, Syrian Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir disclosed that a deal had been finalized between Ankara and Damascus to facilitate the gas flow via a northern pipeline.

Azerbaijan, a country rich in natural gas reserves, has long maintained a strong alliance with Turkey. This longstanding relationship has enabled swift logistical and political coordination to support energy exports into Syria. Meanwhile, Turkey’s collaboration with Syria’s transitional government signals a potential shift in regional dynamics, with energy diplomacy emerging as a new frontier for stabilization.

As gas begins flowing into Aleppo, observers will be watching closely to assess whether this cooperation can contribute to easing Syria’s chronic energy crisis and support broader efforts at economic recovery. The move also positions Turkey as a key player in rebuilding post-conflict Syria through energy infrastructure support.