Dimasheq
Tareq Al-Abdullah, Director of the Refining and Petrochemicals Company at the Syrian Petroleum Company, announced the implementation of a package of new projects in Syria’s refining sector. The plans include the construction of two new refineries in Al-Furqlus in the Homs countryside and in Deir ez-Zor, in addition to the rehabilitation of the Baniyas Refinery to enhance its production efficiency.
Al-Abdullah explained that the Baniyas Refinery will suspend operations for four months starting at the end of July as part of a rehabilitation program aimed at increasing its production capacity to 130,000 barrels per day, up from the current 90,000 barrels per day.
He confirmed that the company has prepared an advance import plan to ensure the local market’s demand for petroleum products is met throughout the refinery’s shutdown period. He noted that temporary shutdowns for maintenance and rehabilitation are standard practice for refineries after years of continuous operation.
Regarding the challenges, Al-Abdullah said that securing the necessary spare parts for refinery equipment remains difficult, explaining that several international companies, including Siemens, continue to comply with sanctions imposed on Syria, complicating procurement processes.
He added that overcoming the impact of these sanctions will take time due to bureaucratic procedures, while emphasizing that efforts are ongoing to find alternative solutions and ensure the continued implementation of refinery development projects.
