Mining Cooperation Between Türkiye and Syria

Making evaluations regarding the agreement, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar said, "With the work we will put into a commercial agreement in the coming days, we aim to implement a very comprehensive, very large project that includes the production of phosphates, the development of phosphate fields, the establishment of an industrial facility, and the construction of a railway related to the arrival of this phosphate production to the port. The signatures made here today are the first step of this," he said.

Stating that the amount of electricity supply to Syria is increasing day by day, Minister Bayraktar also shared the information that "With the Birecik-Aleppo Line, which will be activated in the coming weeks, we will almost triple this exports, it will reach 800-900 megawatts."

Minister Bayraktar paid a visit to Damascus, the capital of Syria, to make a series of contacts.

Meeting with Syrian Energy Minister Al-Bashir

Minister Bayraktar met with Syrian Energy Minister Muhammed Al-Bashir. In this meeting and ones held between delegations, issues such as electricity, mines and phosphate, oil and natural gas, sea drilling and energy transmission lines and transportation were discussed.

Reconciliation In The Field Of Phosphate

Minister Bayraktar's Damascus contacts were also instrumental in the embodiment of a new cooperation between Türkiye and Syria in the field of mining. "Memorandum of Understanding in the Field of Phosphate" was signed in order to develop a strategic partnership in the field of mining between MTA and MTAIC, which are subsidiaries of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, and the General Directorate of Syrian Geology and Mining Resources.

Great Cooperation Potential

After the signing ceremony, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Bayraktar and Syrian Minister of Energy Muhammed Al-Beşir held a joint press conference. Minister Bayraktar, who made statements to journalists here, stated that there is a great cooperation potential between the two countries and that they have put into operation step by step the projects they have put forward to implement the potential in the field of energy and mining in the process of reconstruction and revival of Syria.

We Support the Development Process

Emphasizing that Syria is in a very important development process under the leadership of Syrian President Ahmed Shara, Minister Bayraktar said, "As Türkiye, we attach great importance to and support this process. I believe that this process will be much more accelerated, especially by commissioning Syria's own resources and adding value to the economy." said.

A Very Big Project

Minister Bayraktar, who made evaluations about the signed memorandum of understanding, said, "After signing the framework agreement here today, we aim to implement a very comprehensive, very large project here, including the construction of a railway related to the production of phosphates, the development of phosphate fields, the establishment of industrial facilities, and the arrival of this phosphate production to the port. The signatures made here today are the first step of this," he said.

Electricity Export Will Increase with Birecik-Aleppo Line

Stating that the amount of electricity supply to Syria is increasing day by day, Minister Bayraktar said, "With the Birecik-Aleppo Line, which will be commissioned in the coming weeks, we will almost triple this exports and reach 800-900 megawatts. We will commission the project that will contribute to Syria's need for a significant amount of electricity. There are only a few days left," he said. Minister Bayraktar pointed out that the daily lighting time in the country will also be extended with the line in question.

Infrastructure Projects

Stating that the investments of Turkish companies in Syria continue to increase, Minister Bayraktar said, "We want more Turkish companies to take part in infrastructure projects. We have a very important experience in the construction of pipelines, electricity transmission lines, warehouses and tanks, we can implement them quickly.” said.

Our Companies Are Ready

Minister Bayraktar noted that Türkiye and Syria offer very important opportunities to the whole world in the oil and natural gas transit routes in the global energy crisis the world is going through. Pointing out that there is a wide cooperation potential in the field of oil and natural gas, Minister Bayraktar said, "Our companies, especially Turkish Petroleum, are ready for both the Syrian off-shore and on-shore fields in Syria; existing producing fields, fields where re-production is expected to increase and fields where new exploration can be made. After the discovery of Türkiye in the Black Sea, we started our activities outside of Türkiye in Somalia. Now we want to implement this in the Mediterranean, Syria, Libya and other countries. Syria is amongst countries we attach special importance to and has an important potential. First of all, we want to work with you to bring these resources of Syria to the economy with different companies through partnerships, with a seismic study, followed by drilling works." Minister Bayraktar stated that as the country with the fourth largest geothermal installed power in the world, they want to carry their experience in this regard to Syria.

Geological Surveys and Mineral Exploration and Development Activities

With the signed memorandum of understanding, it is aimed to develop long-term cooperation between Türkiye and Syria in the fields of earth sciences, mining, energy raw materials and geothermal energy. In this context, it is envisaged that joint activities will be carried out to strengthen geological research, mine exploration and development activities, data sharing, education and institutional capacity.

One of the main focuses of the Memorandum of Understanding is the development of joint projects for the exploration, license acquisition, operation and production of end products for metallic minerals, industrial raw materials, especially phosphate, and strategic and critical minerals. Especially within the scope of the phosphate value chain, it is aimed to establish phosphate rock production and long-term trading mechanisms in the first stage, and to cooperate in integrated industrial investments for the production of phosphoric acid, fertilizer and other phosphate-based products in the following stages. In order to implement the said projects, it is envisaged to develop joint ventures, public-private cooperation and other appropriate investment models between Turkish public institutions, private sector organizations and Syrian public institutions.

Syrian President Accepted Shara

Minister Bayraktar was also received by Syrian President Ahmed Shara within the framework of his contacts in Damascus.