Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (C, Rear) poses for photos with Ramez Al-Khayyat (L, Rear), CEO of UrbaCon Trading and Contracting, and Syria's energy affairs chief Mohammed al-Bashir (R, Rear) during the signing of memoranda of understanding in Damascus, Syria, on May 29, 2025. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)
DAMASCUS, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Syria signed a series of memoranda of understanding with international energy companies on Thursday to develop five major power projects, as part of efforts to rebuild its war-damaged infrastructure and accelerate the country's post-war recovery, state news agency SANA reported.
The agreements, signed in the presence of Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, mark a total investment of 7 billion U.S. dollars and are expected to generate 5,000 megawatts of electricity.
The deals include four combined-cycle gas turbine power plants to be built in Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria, Mhardeh, Zayzoun in rural Hama province, and Trifawi in rural Homs province, as well as a 1,000-megawatt solar energy station in Wedian al-Rabia town in the countryside of the capital Damascus.
The Ministry of Energy signed the agreements with a consortium of firms, including UCC Holding, UrbaCon Trading and Contracting, Power International Holding, Cengiz Enerji, and Kalyon Enerji. The projects will utilize American and European technologies, according to SANA.
"This is a historic moment and a turning point in Syria's energy and electricity sector," said energy affairs chief Mohammad al-Bashir during the signing ceremony.
He described the initiative as part of a strategic push to restore Syria's critical infrastructure and to enhance regional cooperation in the field of energy. "This agreement helps us stimulate clean and renewable energy projects, and will directly improve the electricity supply across the country."
Ramiz al-Khayyat, CEO of UrbaCon Trading and Contracting, called the deal a new phase of cooperation to achieve Syria's self-sufficiency. Al-Khayyat added that the projects will generate over 50,000 direct jobs and around 250,000 indirect jobs. ■
Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (C, Rear) observes the signing of memoranda of understanding by Ramez Al-Khayyat (L, Rear), CEO of UrbaCon Trading and Contracting, and Syria's energy affairs chief Mohammed al-Bashir (R, Rear) in Damascus, Syria, on May 29, 2025. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)
