Iran wants to boost its Syrian profile, and presence, by plugging into that country’s electrical sector needs.
While fighting and military actions seem to be subsiding in the country, talk of reconstruction is surfacing as the Syrian government’s allies, namely Russia and Iran, seek to secure contracts to rebuild devastated sectors.
Tehran is facing US sanctions aimed at undermining its financial capability. Yet Iran is one of the most significant parties bidding and concluding agreements to reestablish the electricity sector and wants to take advantage of coming opportunities that also include mining and telecommunications.
Syria and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in September 2017 to cooperate in the field of electricity. According to the memorandum, a 540-megawatt power plant will be established in Latakia and five 125 MW, gas-fired power plants will be built in the Mediterranean coastal city of Banias. Also, Iran would be allowed to assess the damage inflicted on the Aleppo thermal power plant, while also rehabilitating a 90 MW power station in Deir ez-Zor and the Jandar power plant in Homs, among others.
Officials believe half of Syria’s estimated 23 power-generation stations are out of service.
Mahmoud Ramadan, director of the Public Establishment for Electrical Generation, told al-Watan newspaper that damages to Syria’s electrical grid are estimated at 1.2 trillion Syrian pounds ($2.33 billion).