Syria and Saudi Arabia Sign Three Electricity Agreements in Rif Damascus

Details of the Three Agreements

The Syrian Electricity Company has signed three power purchase agreements with Saudi Arabia's Al-Harfi Company for the development of solar energy projects in the Wadyan Al-Rabi area of Rif Damascus. The projects encompass photovoltaic solar stations and battery energy storage systems (BESS), with a combined target capacity of approximately 760 MW. The agreements form part of a broader drive to expand reliance on renewable energy and improve the stability of the national electricity grid.

Strategic Significance

Economic researcher Dr. Abdul Hamid Al-Sabbagh described the agreements as representing, in his assessment, a qualitative shift in Syria's energy strategy, as they open the door to large-scale integration of renewable energy into the electricity system. He noted that the accompanying battery storage systems could contribute to grid stability and improve the utilisation of generated power.

Dr. Al-Sabbagh cautioned, however, that the strategic importance of the agreements does not mean citizens will feel their effects immediately. He stated that the completion of signing marks the beginning of an investment and implementation process requiring successive phases of design, construction, commissioning, and grid connection before the projects translate into actual electricity supply.

Rehabilitation of Existing Infrastructure First

Dr. Al-Sabbagh stated that the immediate priority, in his view, remains the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure, including the repair of damaged stations and distribution networks and the resolution of bottlenecks that currently limit supply hours. He noted that several areas continue to suffer outages due to damage to transmission and distribution networks, and that any new generating capacity will only reach consumers once it is fully commissioned and connected to the grid.

Phased Timeline for Impact

Dr. Al-Sabbagh estimated that the effects will materialise in three phases:

• Near term: Repair of existing infrastructure and resolution of bottlenecks to increase daily supply hours.
• Medium term (one to three years): Gradual commissioning of major rebuilding projects, including the new renewable energy plants and their grid connection, subject to the pace of execution.
• Long term (three to ten years): Realisation of the full benefits of renewable energy expansion, greater self-sufficiency, and sustained grid stability.

The Real Measure of Success

Dr. Al-Sabbagh concluded that the true measure of success for these agreements will not be the volume of megawatts added alone, but the speed of project execution and grid integration, and the extent to which these translate into longer supply hours and lower electricity production costs.