Energy projects are being carried out by Iranian state and private companies in Syria whose government has invited Iranians to help fund more energy ventures in the war-weary country, Syria's energy minister said on Wednesday.
Addressing a conference on 'Rebuilding Syria's Energy Infrastructure' in Tehran, Emad Khamis said," an estimated 12 billion euro is needed to finance power plant and electricity transmission projects by 2020. Furthermore, my country hopes that Iranian private enterprise will play a key role in this regard," ILNA quoted him as saying.
"We are determined to rebuild our ruined industrial infrastructure, the power sector in particular," the official said, adding that "Iranian firms are high on the priority list as they have already completed several water and electricity projects in Syria."
Underscoring the need for the multi-billion-dollar funding for the anticipated deals, he said, "The projects will be funded by domestic and international sources." Khamis did not provide details nor say which foreign countries or companies are willing to put their money in the country ravaged by four years of civil strife and sectarian violence in which an estimated 200,000 people have been killed.
Iran's Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian said on Thursday, "There are no difficulties in helping supply power to Syria," Mehr News Agency quoted him as saying.
According to the minister two power plants are to be constructed in Syria with Iranian collaboration.
Iran is the largest exporter and importer of electricity in the Middle East and exports electric power to Armenia, Pakistan, Turkey, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Azerbaijan and Armenia supply electricity to Iran under a swap agreement.
