Link: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/13/qatar-begins-supplying-natural-gas-to-syria-through-jordan
Qatar has begun providing natural gas to Syria through Jordan to tackle the country’s electricity shortage and power cuts, state news agency QNA has reported. “This initiative represents a pivotal step towards meeting the Syrian people’s energy needs and reflects a shared commitment among all parties to work together for the benefit of the region,” said Fahad Hamad Hassan Al-Sulaiti, who heads the Qatar Fund for Development. According to the agreement, Qatar will provide natural gas supplies “generating power from 400 megawatts of electricity daily and gradually increase production at the Deir Ali power plant in Syria.” The electricity will be distributed to several Syrian cities, including the capital Damascus, Rif Dimashq, As Suwayda, Daraa, Al Qunaitra, Homs, Hama, Tartous, Latakia, Aleppo, and Deir ez-Zur. Syria previously received much of the oil used for power generation from Iran, but supplies were cut after al-Assad’s removal.
This is important because it shows how Qatar is beginning to fill the role of providing energy to Syria in spite of the instability in Syria and the surrounding territories such as its borders with Turkiye and Israel. It also shows how the new government in Syria is gaining recognition from the various governments of nearby states. Qatar is in an interesting position of trying to project itself as a rich tourism country much like the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia, but it still get a vast majority of its money from drilling and selling oil. By initiating this natural gas deal Qatar is maintaining its reputation as an energy exporter rather than a tourism hotspot.
This relates to what we learned in class because of how Qatar is seeking to bring profit to their state while also helping to maintain stability in their neighbors. However, this somewhat goes against their strategy of moving away from an energy focused economy as their energy will not last forever.