Qatar is set to supply Syria with natural gas routed through Jordan to help ease Syria’s chronic electricity shortages, a move described by a US official as having Washington’s approval. The arrangement signals a notable shift in Qatar’s stance toward Damascus’s government, which emerged after backers of the prior regime—once vehement opponents of Bashar Assad—helped establish the current administration. A US official indicated the gas deal received an endorsement from President Donald Trump’s team, though details of how that approval was conveyed were not provided.
Qatar’s state news agency later reported that an agreement had been signed between Qatar’s development fund and Jordan’s energy ministry to provide Damascus with “an approved supply of natural gas” via Jordan, aimed at addressing Syria’s electricity shortage. The report did not reference Syria’s new rulers or Washington directly. The fund said it would provide a grant to Jordan’s energy ministry to enable the gas supply to Syria, with the Jordanian side confirming the funding would come from Qatar’s development fund.
The gas is to be received at Jordan’s Red Sea port of Aqaba, then transported to Syria via the Arab Gas Pipeline. Jordan’s energy minister, Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, stated that the initiative would be fully funded by Qatar’s fund. A portion of the pipeline runs from Aqaba northward through Jordan to Syria, enabling gas to reach the southern region of Syria. In addition to the pipeline logistics, the arrangement is framed within a broader context of US engagement and regional diplomacy, including efforts to foster dialogue between Kurdish forces in northern Syria and Damascus, which suggests Washington’s continued, albeit cautious, involvement in Syria’s energy and political landscape.
The gas would be transferred from Jordan through a pipeline to the Deir Ali power plant in southern Syria, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The plan anticipates an initial boost to Deir Ali’s output of about 400 megawatts per day, with the output expected to increase gradually over time, as noted by the Qatar-based fund’s statement. Syria’s overall power capacity has been estimated at roughly 4,000 MW in recent assessments. The plan therefore represents a meaningful, if incremental, contribution to the country’s electricity generation during a period of severe shortages.
Key players’ responses and wider implications
The US State Department and Qatar’s foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment on the plan. Syria’s electricity shortages have been severe for years, with state-provided electricity typically available for only two to three hours daily in many areas. The ongoing issues extend beyond generation capacity, with damage to the power grid complicating any effort to deliver more electricity even if generation increases are achieved.
Historical and logistical backdrop
Damascus historically relied on oil from Iran for power generation, but Iranian supplies have been curtailed since Islamist groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) ousted Tehran-aligned leadership in December. The interim government in Damascus has pledged to ramp up power supply quickly, in part by importing electricity from Jordan and by using floating power barges, which have not yet arrived. Other lines of effort include domestic repairs to the grid and increased generation from alternative sources, but these measures face significant technical and logistical challenges.
The Jordanian side has indicated readiness to support a wholesale increase in cross-border energy flows, while stressing that the move requires careful coordination to ensure grid compatibility and financial clarity. Two additional sources with knowledge of the matter indicated that Jordan has received US approval to proceed with supplying up to 250 MW of electricity during non-peak hours. However, the overall timeline remains contingent on Syria’s internal grid readiness and the resolution of financing and operational logistics.
Technical and operational realities
“The internal network in Syria is not yet ready to receive this and needs a significant amount of work,” said Ibrahim Seif, a former Jordanian minister of energy and mineral resources. The possibility of delivering up to 250 MW during non-peak hours would require substantial upgrades to the grid in Syria to manage the new inflows without risking instability or damage to existing infrastructure. Financing arrangements for the broader gas-transfer project remain partly unclear, which adds a layer of financial risk alongside the technical hurdles.
This plan’s practicality hinges on multiple intertwined factors:
- Grid readiness: Syria’s electrical grid has suffered extensive damage, and even with more gas, the ability to distribute electricity across the country will depend on repairing transmission lines, substations, and protection systems.
- Financing: While Qatar’s development fund has committed to funding the Jordanian side of the operation, the overall financing for the project, including procurement, maintenance, and long-term operation, requires further clarification and oversight.
- Gas supply reliability: Supplying Damascus with gas via Jordan implicates regional security dynamics, supply agreements, and potential disruptions related to regional tensions or disputes among stakeholders.
- Coordination with other power sources: The plan must coexist with existing and planned power-generation options, including potential imports from neighboring countries and any floating or alternative power solutions.
Geopolitical context and regional dynamics
The arrangement underscores a complex realignment in regional energy diplomacy. Qatar’s willingness to back a gas provision to Syria via Jordan, with a path to Damascus, marks a notable extension of Doha’s engagement with the Assad administration, despite Qatar’s earlier opposition to Assad’s government. The move also sits within broader US efforts to stabilize or shape the energy landscape in Syria, even as Washington proceeds cautiously in easing sanctions and managing alliances in the region.
At the same time, the plan interacts with the US’s approach to Syria’s governance and security arrangements. The stated US approval signals an alignment of interests among Washington, Doha, and Amman, yet the plan’s success is not guaranteed. The complexity of Syria’s electricity network, along with uncertainties about financing and implementation timelines, means the project could face delays or partial execution. The involvement of Kurdish forces in discussions with Damascus—as echoed by one source—suggests ongoing diplomacy aimed at broader strategic goals beyond energy alone, including stabilizing the northern regions and integrating different governance structures into a cohesive, post-conflict energy framework.
Infrastructure and reliability considerations
The Deir Ali power plant in southern Syria stands to gain from the gas supply, potentially improving its output and contributing to the national grid’s stability. However, any improvement in generation must be matched by corresponding improvements in grid transmission capacity, distribution reliability, and regional synchronization of power flows. The current estimate of Syria’s electricity capacity at around 4,000 MW provides a context for the scale of the challenge: even a sustained increase of several hundred megawatts could alleviate some shortages but would not by itself solve the country’s broader power reliability issues.
Additionally, the plan’s reliance on a crossing at Aqaba and the Arab Gas Pipeline introduces logistical dependencies on cross-border infrastructure, security conditions, and international shipping or customs arrangements that could influence project timelines. If the project proceeds, there will be a need for robust monitoring and governance to ensure compliance with financing terms, safety standards, and long-term operations.
Financing, oversight, and governance
The Qatar Development Fund’s involvement indicates a grant-based financing approach to support the Jordanian side of delivering gas to Syria. While the Jordanian energy minister stated that the project would be fully funded by the fund, there remains a need for clarity about financing mechanisms on the Syrian side, including any investments in grid rehabilitation, metering, and reliability testing. Governance arrangements, transparency measures, and accountability frameworks will be critical to ensure the funds are used effectively and that the energy delivery remains sustainable beyond initial deployment.
Implications for energy strategy and reconstruction
If realized, the gas delivery to Syria would represent a tangible contribution to the country’s energy mix—an important step in a broader strategy to stabilize electricity supply and support reconstruction efforts in affected regions. Improvements in electricity generation could support essential services, public infrastructure, and economic activity, potentially aiding post-conflict stabilization and governance efforts. However, the project’s success will depend on the ability to translate generation increases into reliable, widespread electricity access for households and businesses, which requires concurrent investments in transmission networks, grid resilience, and power management systems.
Potential timelines and milestones
While the plan envisions an initial boost of 400 MW per day at Deir Ali, with subsequent gradual increases, actual milestones will hinge on grid readiness, financing flow, and the effectiveness of cross-border coordination. The possibility of delivering up to 250 MW during non-peak hours—per some sources with knowledge of the matter—adds a layered target to monitor. Timelines could be affected by political developments, security considerations, and practical challenges in repairing or upgrading Syria’s energy infrastructure. A careful, staged approach with defined milestones would likely be needed to manage expectations and measure progress.
Public communications and expectations
In the public domain, there has been limited formal commentary from key government actors beyond the initial declarations. The State Department and Qatar’s foreign ministry did not provide responses to request for comment, and Syria’s formal announcements have been framed within the context of addressing the electricity shortage rather than detailing the political dimensions of the arrangement. As the project progresses, stakeholders will benefit from clear, consistent communications that outline objectives, milestones, risk factors, and contingency plans to manage delays or obstacles. Transparent reporting on financing flows, construction timelines, and grid integration progress will be essential to maintain credibility and public confidence.
Impacts on regional energy diplomacy
This gas allocation could influence regional energy diplomacy by strengthening ties among Qatar, Jordan, and Syria, and by signaling a pragmatic approach to border-crossing energy trade amid ongoing regional complexities. The deal interacts with broader US-led and regional efforts to shape Syria’s post-conflict energy landscape and could serve as a test case for cross-border energy cooperation in a conflict-affected setting. The success or failure of the plan could influence future cross-border energy projects, including potential expansions of gas or electricity interconnections in the Levant and neighboring regions, either encouraging more collaborative energy sharing or prompting caution if technical or political risks prove too high.
Conclusion
The Qatar-to-Syria gas initiative via Jordan represents a significant development in the region’s energy and political landscape, with the potential to alleviate Syria’s acute electricity shortages through a practical cross-border gas transfer. The plan hinges on multiple interconnected elements: efficient and safe delivery of gas to Aqaba, robust cross-border transmission through the Arab Gas Pipeline to the Deir Ali power plant, and the ability to integrate additional gas into an aging and damaged Syrian grid. Financing arrangements, the readiness of Syria’s grid to receive and distribute the gas, and the broader geopolitical dynamics—particularly the ongoing involvement of the United States and the nuanced relationship among Qatar, Jordan, and Damascus—will determine whether this initiative translates into meaningful and sustained improvements in electricity access for ordinary Syrians. While the initial target of delivering 400 MW per day offers a concrete starting point, the plan’s long-term impact will depend on successful grid rehabilitation, clear governance, and steady operational execution, alongside continued diplomatic coordination among regional and international stakeholders.