Introduction:
The energy sector stands out as a cornerstone for restoring national sovereignty and economic independence. Oil, gas, and electricity symbolize national dignity and the ability to control the collective destiny.
In this article, we will present a national vision for reclaiming these resources, focusing on current challenges and future prospects, and attempting to chart a path toward sustainable self-sufficiency that strengthens Syrian unity and safeguards the future of coming generations.
The analysis in this article adopts a philosophical approach that combines political economy and environmental ethics, emphasizing that energy is a fundamental element in building national identity.
The National Vision: Energy as the Foundation of Sovereignty and Unity:
Regaining control over energy resources after ending the SDF’s control of the Jazeera region is a crucial step toward strengthening Syrian unity.
Historically, prior to 2011, Syria enjoyed oil production of approximately 400,000 barrels per day, which contributed to meeting its domestic needs and supporting the national economy. Today, in 2026, regaining control of the oil and gas fields in the eastern and northeastern regions represents a restoration of economic sovereignty, as it could reduce dependence on imports that cost the state hundreds of millions annually.
This recalls Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s concept of the “social contract,” where the state is the expression of the general will, and therefore natural resources should be collective property serving the public interest, not tools for external or internal exploitation.
In this context, energy can be a tool for national reconciliation.
For example, the equitable redistribution of oil and gas revenues among the provinces strengthens the sense of national belonging, especially in marginalized areas.
Furthermore, generating electricity from dams such as the Euphrates and Tishrin dams can provide a stable energy supply for agricultural and industrial sectors, revitalizing the local economy.
However, this requires a profound philosophical vision that views energy not merely as a source of income, but as a cornerstone in building a just society based on the principles of sustainability and social justice. In Aristotle’s philosophy, the “city” (the state) is the place for achieving the “good life,” and herein lies the importance of energy as a means to achieve collective well-being, not individual or factional wealth.
Current Challenges: Between Historical Destruction and Economic Obstacles
Despite its promising potential, Syria faces profound structural challenges in the energy sector.
Economically, oil production has fallen to less than 100,000 barrels per day in recent years due to the destruction of infrastructure during the conflicts between the people and the former regime and its allies, in addition to looting and unregulated extraction that has depleted reserves.
As for gas, it currently covers less than half of domestic needs, forcing the state to import and increasing pressure on the national budget.
This reality also reflects a Hegelian philosophical contradiction: between the theoretical possibility of self-sufficiency and the material reality that imposes dependency, requiring a “transcendence” that combines preserving national heritage with modern innovation.
In addition, the electricity sector suffers from a shortage of generating capacity, with current capacity not exceeding 2 gigawatts, compared to 9 gigawatts before the revolution.
This shortage leads to severe electricity rationing, hindering industrial and agricultural development.
These challenges can be linked to Fukuyama’s “end of history” thesis, where he argued that developing countries like Syria must overcome internal conflicts to achieve his model of efficient resource management.
Climate change, such as the declining water levels of the Euphrates River, adds an environmental challenge that requires a sustainable approach.
Here, the philosophy of sustainability, as exemplified by Hans Jonas’s “principle of responsibility,” comes into play. This principle calls for a moral responsibility towards future generations, making reliance on fossil fuels alone insufficient.
Furthermore, the repercussions of international sanctions, despite their scheduled lifting in 2025, remain an obstacle to foreign investment.
This necessitates national policies focused on strategic partnerships with countries like Saudi Arabia and Turkey, which we support, but without compromising sovereignty.
Looking ahead to sustainable self-sufficiency:
Syria can achieve energy self-sufficiency within the next five years if investments are made in rehabilitating its oil fields and dams.
For example, gas production could be doubled to 15 million cubic meters per day by the end of 2026 through partnerships with international companies such as Aramco or American firms.
This transition to sustainability reflects Nietzsche’s concept of “the will to power,” where a state transforms from a state of weakness to one of strength through innovation and adaptation.
However, the future approach must include diversification towards renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, which could cover 20% of the country’s needs by 2030. This diversification is not only economic but also philosophical, reflecting “ecological balance,” as described by Aldo Leopold in “The Ethics of the Earth,” where energy becomes part of a balanced ecosystem. It also requires institutional reforms, such as establishing a sovereign wealth fund for oil revenues, to ensure equitable distribution and development funding.
Furthermore, Syria can become a regional energy hub through gas transit agreements with neighboring countries, thus bolstering regional peace.
This is reminiscent of Kant’s philosophy of “perpetual peace,” where economic partnerships form the basis for international stability.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the return of energy resources to the Syrian state represents a historic opportunity to build an independent and sustainable society.
Through a national vision focused on unity and a profound philosophical perspective linking energy to ethics and sustainability, self-sufficiency can be achieved.
This requires concerted efforts between the government and civil society, leveraging international partnerships without compromising sovereignty.
Therefore, we in the Syrian Future Movement recommend the following for rebuilding the energy sector in Syria:
- Rehabilitating oil and gas fields using advanced technologies to restore reserves: The Syrian government should form technical partnerships with international companies such as Shell or Chevron to utilize water-injection and advanced drilling technologies to recover estimated reserves of 2.5 billion barrels of oil and 8.5 trillion cubic feet of gas.
This requires an investment of up to $10 billion to repair wells and pipelines, focusing on fields like Omar to increase production to 25,000-40,000 barrels per day within 2-4 years.
From a specialized perspective, reservoir simulation models should be implemented using software such as ECLIPSE to minimize environmental damage, drawing on Iraq’s experience in rehabilitating the Kirkuk fields. - Boosting natural gas production as a priority for electricity generation: With current production at 7 million cubic meters per day, we recommend doubling production to 15 million cubic meters by the end of 2026 by restarting gas plants like Conoco.
This includes constructing combined-cycle gas turbines with a capacity of 4,000 megawatts, leveraging partnerships with Qatar (such as UCC Holding) to secure $7 billion in financing.
Carbon capture (CCS) technologies should be integrated to reduce emissions, along with geophysical studies to explore new reserves, drawing inspiration from Azerbaijan’s model of exporting gas via pipeline to Turkey to enhance regional stability.
- Reforming the electricity infrastructure with a focus on environmental sustainability: Given the decline in generation capacity to 1.6-2 GW from 9.5 GW before 2011, we recommend spending $10 billion to rebuild the electricity grid, including a $146 million World Bank grant for the Emergency Electricity Project (SEEP).
Renewable energy (solar and wind) should also be integrated to cover 20% of needs by 2030, using grid optimization models such as HOMER to balance demand, while considering the impact of drought on dams like the Euphrates Dam, and learning from Jordan’s experience in energy transition. - Establishing a sovereign wealth fund for energy revenues to ensure equitable distribution: To address the poverty affecting 90% of Syrians, we see the necessity of establishing a sovereign wealth fund to manage oil and gas revenues, allocating 30% to local development in the eastern governorates.
From an economic perspective, we see the importance of implementing financial management models like those of Norway’s oil fund, along with economic impact assessments to measure return on investment, while ensuring the prevention of corruption through international oversight, drawing inspiration from Libya’s experience in redistributing oil revenues after conflicts. - Strengthening regional and international partnerships while preserving sovereignty: Agreements with Turkey for electricity imports (900 MW) and with Azerbaijan for gas (1.2 billion cubic meters annually) should be expanded, along with attracting Gulf investments such as the $7 billion UCC agreement. Politically, we recommend conducting geopolitical studies to assess risks, with contractual terms that protect Syrian sovereignty, drawing inspiration from Turkey’s model in energy as a regional intermediary, to transform Syria into an energy transit hub.
- Developing Human Resources and Specialized Training: With the emigration of engineers, training programs in partnership with organizations such as UNESCO are recommended to qualify 5,000 specialists in drilling and production fields within three years.
Digital approaches, such as artificial intelligence, should also be integrated into reservoir monitoring, along with social impact studies to integrate returning workers, drawing inspiration from Iraq’s experience in rebuilding its energy workforce. - Integrating Environmental and Climate Considerations into Energy Policies: To address drought, we recommend conducting Environmental Assessments (EIAs) for every project, while transitioning to green energy to reduce emissions by 30% by 2030. Climate models such as the IPCC should also be used to predict the impact of the declining water levels of the Euphrates River.
Ultimately, energy is not just a resource, but a symbol of the Syrian will to confront challenges and move towards a future that combines economic strength with social justice.
References:
- Al-Dahik, A. (2026, January 20). Syria’s war-ravaged oil sector faces tough road to recovery, analysts say. Al Jazeera.
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/1/20/syrias-war-ravaged-oil-sector-faces-tough-road-to-recovery-analysts-say - (The experts’ assessment of current oil production at approximately 85,000–110,000 barrels per day, the technical challenges in the fields, and the need for massive investments is a primary source of the approximate figures in the article.)
- Harmoon Center for Contemporary Studies. (2025). Syria’s Energy Challenge: Security and Reconstruction. Damascus.
https://www.harmoon.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Syrias-Energy-Challenge-Security-and-Reconstruction.pdf - (A specialized Syrian-international study covering actual electricity capacity, gas potential, the environmental impact of drought on dams, and the need for energy diversification. It serves as a primary reference for the national and future analysis presented in the article.)
- World Bank. (2025). Syrian Arab Republic: Macro Fiscal Assessment and Pathways to Recovery – 2025 Update. Washington, DC.
https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099012025 - (An official report discussing the estimated $10–15 billion in reconstruction needs in the energy sector, the impact of partially lifted sanctions, and the prospects for energy-related economic growth. It supports the economic and future vision presented in the article.)
