The Banias oil refinery in the Syrian province of Tartus resumed operations Saturday after being offline for months, according to a statement by the Tartus governorate on Telegram.
Energy Minister Mohammad Al-Bashir told the Syrian news agency, SANA, that the ‘refinery’s re-operation came after the imports of crude oil supplies under tenders announced for this purpose, which aimed to secure citizens’ basic needs for petroleum derivatives.’
Al-Bashir said the step ‘is part of the Ministry’s strategy to ensure the stability of the oil sector and secure basic materials for citizens, despite the challenges we are working to overcome and address the technical and logistical obstacles.’
He stressed that the government ‘attaches top priority to reforming the energy infrastructure and enhancing transparency in resource management to serve the aspired-for economic development process,’ according to SANA.
The estimated production capacity at the refinery is around 95,000 barrels per day, according to the Tartus governorate statement.
The first oil tanker arrived at Banias port March 21 following the toppling of the Assad regime.
Syria had long relied on Iranian oil supplies to fuel its power generation, but those deliveries were halted after Bashar al-Assad was removed from power in December.
In 2010, oil accounted for 20% of Syria’s GDP, 50% of its exports and more than half of state revenues.
At that time, the country produced 390,000 barrels per day, but production declined sharply over the years, reaching 40,000 barrels per day in 2023.
