BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 15. The
transportation of Azerbaijani natural gas to Syria via Türkiye
officially commenced in August this year, marking a historic
milestone with the launch of a new pipeline near the Turkish city
of Kilis. This development signifies the beginning of direct
exports of Azerbaijani gas to Syria.
The gas is sourced from major fields in Azerbaijan, such as Shah
Deniz, and transported through pipelines to Türkiye. From there,
the gas is transmitted via the newly established infrastructure in
Kilis, ultimately reaching Syria. Initially, the gas will supply
power plants in key cities like Aleppo and Homs. This initiative is
part of the broader Azerbaijan-Türkiye-Syria energy cooperation
framework, aimed at fostering greater economic and energy
integration within the region. As a result, the project is expected
to contribute an electricity generation capacity of 1,200 to 1,300
megawatts.
Statistical data released last week revealed that Azerbaijan
exported 153.15 million cubic meters of natural gas, valued at
$52.5 million, to Syria. This gas, delivered in its gaseous form,
marks the initial phase of a larger project aimed at exporting 1.2
billion cubic meters of natural gas annually to Syria. According to
official projections, this volume is expected to increase as the
project progresses, with a target of reaching two billion cubic
meters annually. These figures reflect the gas transported directly
to Syria via transit, underscoring the project's importance in
revitalizing Syria's energy infrastructure.
The ongoing Syrian conflict, which has been devastating the
country since 2011, has severely damaged its energy infrastructure.
The commencement of this pipeline marks a significant step in the
reconstruction of that infrastructure. From a strategic standpoint,
the project aligns with Azerbaijan's broader energy policy
objectives, facilitating both economic diversification and
bolstering its energy leadership in the region. As the supply of
gas increases, it will not only contribute to Syria's energy
recovery but also support its broader economic revitalization
efforts.
This initiative broadens the scope of Azerbaijan's gas exports,
creating a vital resource for Syria's energy restoration while
reinforcing regional cooperation and energy security. While still
in its early stages, the project is expected to scale up, paving
the way for larger volumes and deeper strategic cooperation in the
coming years. It also enhances Azerbaijan's geopolitical role,
contributing to both regional stability and the peace process in
Syria.
These indicators are a real result of the expansion of the
geography of Azerbaijan's gas exports. The addition of the Middle
East direction to the export policy traditionally aimed at Europe
and regional countries indicates the beginning of a new stage in
Azerbaijan's energy strategy. Although the volume of exports to
Syria has a relatively small share against the background of total
gas exports, its strategic and political weight is much greater
than economic indicators. This is not a purely commercial project,
but also an energy diplomacy project.
In general, the presented indicators prove that natural gas
exports from Azerbaijan to Syria are not just a statistical
phenomenon, but in a broader sense an important element of energy
diplomacy, regional influence, and economic and political
balancing.
Azerbaijan exported a total of 20.6 billion cubic meters of
natural gas (in gaseous form) abroad, worth $7.4 billion, from
January through October 2025.
Compared to the same period of last year, this figure rose by
$569.3 million or 8.3% in value, but decreased by 690 million cubic
meters or 3.2% in volume.
During the mentioned period, natural gas accounted for 34.28% of
the country’s total exports.
At the same time, in the first 10 months of this year,
Azerbaijan imported 252.15 million cubic meters of natural gas
worth $39.151 million, which is $40.2 million or two times less in
value terms than a year ago, and 243.6 million cubic meters or
49.1% less in volume terms.
