Power politics: Syria and the rise of electricity diplomacy

As Syria grapples with severe electricity shortages, recent power-purchase deals show how power is becoming a tool for diplomacy and could bring about a regional electricity exchange market

AFP

The sun sets behind burning gas flares at a power plant.

Power politics: Syria and the rise of electricity diplomacy

Jessica Obeid

last update on 23 Feb 2025

As Syria struggles with crippling electricity shortages, a new form of diplomacy is emerging—one powered by power-purchase agreements. With much of the country receiving under three hours of electricity per day, Syria’s shattered power infrastructure has become both a roadblock to economic recovery and a focal point for regional energy politics.

More than a decade of conflict and the imposition of international sanctions have transformed the country from an energy exporter into a net importer, leaving it reliant on external agreements to meet its energy needs.

Now, electricity is not just a basic utility service but an instrument of influence. The partial easing of US sanctions in January has enabled Syria to sign power-purchase agreements with regional countries—so far, with Jordan and Türkiye. This signals a new approach to diplomacy, wherein energy cooperation serves as an entry point for broader cooperation.

Sector challenges

War and sanctions have inflicted exorbitant losses on Syria’s electricity sector. Total power generation capacity has been reduced to approximately 2,000 megawatts (MW) from 7,500. Fuel shortages and damage to power plants and transmission networks have left millions without a reliable power supply.

Sanctions have done further damage to the sector by blocking access to international financing and imports of components for essential plant and grid repairs. Construction projects have been brought to a standstill. The only foreign contracts on record appear to be with Iranian companies for the repair of one power plant in Aleppo and the installation of a new one in Latakia.

Syrians among the rubble and damaged power lines in the Zabadani area in the Damascus countryside, Syria, May 18, 2017.

With domestic generation unable to meet demand and grid repairs largely stalled, Syria’s electricity crisis continues to be a major roadblock to economic recovery. However, a US Treasury waiver lifting sanctions on electricity sales for six months initially has paved the way for new power-purchase agreements with Jordan and Türkiye.

These deals extend beyond addressing electricity shortages: they illustrate how electricity is being leveraged as a strategic tool to strengthen ties and underscore the role of energy in shaping Syria’s future relations. They also raise fundamental questions about the role of electricity in post-war economic stabilisation in the Middle East and whether this trend could potentially pave the way for an active regional electricity exchange market.

Jordan deal

Jordan has committed to supplying electricity to Syria once transmission infrastructure is rehabilitated. This move is both strategic and economic. Jordan is seeking to position itself as an energy hub and sees electricity diplomacy as a useful tool to re-establish its influence in Syria.

For Syria, the agreement will provide an immediate boost to its power supply while also helping to facilitate Syria’s physical reintegration into the regional fold and advancing diplomatic efforts to improve relations with regional states.

The key advantage of power ships is that they can be deployed quickly and require minimal infrastructure. This is great for conflict-hit areas that need immediate relief.

Jordan does not intend for the Syrian deal to happen in a vacuum. The country currently faces a costly electricity surplus and is seeking to generate revenue by positioning itself as a hub within an expanded electricity exchange network.

This is in line with Jordan's national energy strategy, which outlines plans to reinstate or establish new grid interconnections with several of Jordan's regional neighbours, beginning with Syria and Iraq. Jordan originally connected its grid to Syria's in 2001, but the interconnection has not been operational since 2012.

Meanwhile, a new interconnection with Iraq is under development, as per an agreement signed in 2024, and is expected to supply Iraq with 150 MW of electricity upon full completion later this year. In 2022, Jordan also signed a US-backed deal to sell electricity to Lebanon through Syria, although financial and political constraints have delayed its implementation.

Türkiye agreement

Ankara has taken a different approach to Jordan, but the implications are similar. Türkiye has agreed to supply Syria with electricity via floating power ships, which are large vessels equipped with onboard power plants. Türkiye, through its energy company Karpowership, has previously deployed this model in Lebanon, Ghana, Ukraine, and several other countries.

The key advantage of power ships is that they can be deployed quickly and require minimal infrastructure. They offer a fast-track solution to meet immediate demand in conflict-affected areas, but they will do little to address the structural challenges facing Syria's power sector.

REUTERS — Karadeniz Powerships KPS Orka Sultan and KPS Orhan Ali Khan are pictured at Altinova port in the Gulf of Izmit, Turkey, on May 28, 2023.

However, the deal carries broader strategic implications, which are significant: Türkiye has long been involved in northern Syria, supporting opposition groups and maintaining a military presence there; electricity provision is a new means by which to extend its influence, not just in Syria but also globally.

Türkiye has also long sought to become a major gas hub. Its infrastructure would receive a strategic boost through the development of a gas pipeline to Syria. Such a pipeline could be used to connect regional producers to demand centres in Europe via Turkish transit routes. The Syrian electricity sector could also serve as an entry point for Türkiye to expand its footprint in the country's broader energy market, including the development of oil and gas resources.

The road ahead

These developments highlight a broader trend of electricity being viewed as not just an economic asset but a diplomatic currency. In post-conflict settings, emergency power provision can influence political alignments and shape regional partnerships.

Syria's electricity crisis will not be solved by a handful of power-purchase agreements or floating generators. However, these deals could set the course for an active regional electricity exchange market, specifically in post-conflict settings.

Similar dynamics are evident in Iraq and Lebanon, both of which face significant electricity shortages and political instability. In such environments, electricity diplomacy could become a stabilising force, increasing electricity supply while reducing reliance on a single supplier.

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