ISTANBUL

Five new zones along Syria’s coast have been identified for natural gas exploration, an energy official said Wednesday.

The state-run Syrian Petroleum Co. is working to expand existing petroleum fields and explore new ones, CEO Youssef Qablawi told the state-run TV channel Al-Ikhbariya.

He added that Syria expects to double its gas production in a short period, adding that the company aims to significantly boost natural gas output before 2030.

Qablawi said engineers have prepared domestic exploration plans for areas south of Damascus without foreign intermediaries and that five new coastal exploration blocks have been designated, though he did not specify their locations.

Syria is positioned to become “an important hub for gas distribution to Europe,” he said, adding that the company’s development plans would raise citizens’ income levels.

Qablawi also said the company has “high-level expertise” and intends to transform Syrian Petroleum Co. into a “global” operator capable of investing abroad.

On Tuesday, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with US-based ConocoPhillips to expand cooperation on gas development and exploration and to exchange technical expertise.

Government figures in 2025 revealed that Syria’s proven natural gas reserves totaled about 8.5 trillion cubic feet, while daily output of non-associated gas averaged around 250 million cubic meters, accounting for 58% of the country’s total gas production.

Associated gas - produced alongside crude - represents 28% of national output, with most of it extracted east of the Euphrates River.

The Syrian government has been seeking to improve the country’s energy supply by signing agreements and memorandums of understanding with foreign states and companies in an effort to bolster basic services and raise living standards.

Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia last December, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963. A new administration led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa was formed in January.