Syria, Jordan and Lebanon Hold Trilateral Meeting on Arab Gas Pipeline Trial Pumping

Details of the Technical Meeting

Representatives from the energy ministries of Syria, Jordan and Lebanon held a virtual technical meeting to review the executive procedures required to activate the Arab Gas Pipeline (AGP) and secure Lebanon's energy supply. Syria's Ministry of Energy stated on Friday that the meeting focused on finalising the timelines for launching the project's trial pumping phase.

Syrian Network Readiness

Deputy Minister of Energy for Oil Affairs, Ghiath Diab, confirmed that the Syrian gas network has reached its highest level of technical readiness following the completion of all necessary tests along the route extending from the Jordanian-Syrian border to the Lebanese border. Diab noted that the results of these tests demonstrate the Syrian infrastructure's capacity to accommodate pumping operations in line with required technical standards.

Strategic Importance of the Project

Diab described the project as a vital artery that strengthens economic integration among the participating countries, affirming Syria's role as a safe and stable energy transit state in the region. The Arab Gas Pipeline spans approximately 1,200 kilometres, linking Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, and has been partially inactive since the early 2010s due to the Syrian conflict.

Broader Energy Context

Energy Minister Mohammad Al-Bashir had previously stated that the resumption of gas pumping via Jordan, combined with maintenance works and balanced electricity consumption management, has contributed to improved stability of the power grid across most Syrian regions. These developments reflect Syria's broader efforts to reposition itself within the regional energy landscape and expand cooperation with neighbouring states.

Background on the Arab Gas Pipeline

The Arab Gas Pipeline is one of the region's most significant energy infrastructure projects, proposed in 2001 and completed in successive phases at a total cost of approximately USD 1.2 billion. The Syrian section runs from the Jordanian border through Homs, with a branch extending to Tripoli in Lebanon. In March 2024, Qatar, Jordan and Syria signed an agreement to utilise a floating regasification vessel at Aqaba to receive and convert liquefied gas before pumping it through the pipeline toward Syria.