First Syrian Offshore Gas Field

Project Overview

The project aims to establish the first Syrian offshore oil and gas field through exploration and drilling in territorial waters, with the goals of developing the petroleum sector and supporting energy security.

Main Participating Parties

The Syrian Petroleum Company is the state-owned national company responsible for managing oil resources. It is the Syrian party that signs the agreement and is authorized to grant exploration rights.

Chevron International is a global energy company that signed a memorandum to assess opportunities for oil and gas exploration off the Syrian coast in the Eastern Mediterranean. A company spokesperson stated that the agreement is a preliminary one to evaluate feasibility.

Power International Holding / UCC (Qatar) is a Qatari investment group described as a partner in financing and development. According to the source, the group holds prior investments in Syria in real estate, power projects, and the Damascus Airport redevelopment.

The signing was attended by the US envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, and the Qatari ambassador Khalifa bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud. Their attendance indicates a political and diplomatic dimension to the project alongside the economic one.

Location and Offshore Blocks

The memorandum did not disclose the name of the field or its exact coordinates. It is an agreement to explore one offshore block out of five blocks that have been surveyed or allocated off the coasts of Tartous and Latakia.

An official from the Syrian Petroleum Company stated that Syria has five offshore blocks along its shoreline, and that one of them will be designated as the scope of joint work under the memorandum.

This area lies within the Eastern Mediterranean, where gas discoveries have been recorded in Egypt, Israel, Cyprus, and Lebanon. On this basis, the Syrian coast is described as a potential geological extension of those gas basins.

Expected Economic Significance

According to the Syrian government and analysts, the project carries potential significance for the energy sector and the wider economy.

It could help diversify energy sources and reduce dependence on war-damaged onshore fields in the northeast, shifting toward offshore resources described as relatively more secure.

Successful offshore discoveries could improve gas supplies for power generation and industry in the medium term and reduce the energy import bill.

The project may also create direct and indirect jobs in oil-field services, engineering, transport, and logistics, and could add revenue to the state budget if a commercially viable field is developed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which parties signed the offshore gas agreement?

The Syrian Petroleum Company signed the memorandum with Chevron International, alongside Power International Holding / UCC of Qatar as a partner in financing and development.

How many offshore blocks does Syria have, and how many are covered by the memorandum?

According to a Syrian Petroleum Company official, Syria has five offshore blocks along its coast. The memorandum covers exploration of one of these blocks, off the coasts of Tartous and Latakia.

Is the agreement a final exploration contract?

No. A Chevron spokesperson described it as a preliminary memorandum to evaluate the feasibility of oil and gas exploration. The field name and exact coordinates were not disclosed.

What is the project's expected economic role?

If a commercially viable field is developed, the project could diversify energy sources, improve gas supplies for power generation and industry over the medium term, reduce the energy import bill, and create direct and indirect jobs.

UPDATE 05.12.2026

The Syrian Petroleum Company announced on Monday that it had received official notification from the American company Chevron to begin procedures for the first offshore energy exploration project in Syria, in cooperation with UCC Holdings.

The company explained in a statement published on its official accounts that the notification is a prelude to finalizing contractual arrangements and commencing technical operations during the summer of 2026.

According to the company, the project represents a strategic step in the development of the petroleum sector in Syria, as it establishes the first deep-water offshore exploration operation within Syrian territorial waters.

She explained that the project is part of her vision to attract major international energy companies and enhance exploration and development projects in the Syrian petroleum sector, thus opening the door to a new phase of investment in the energy sector.

She noted that this step reflects growing confidence in the Syrian energy sector and the promising potential that Syria possesses, in addition to continuing to work on developing strategic projects that support the national economy and open new horizons for investment and international cooperation.

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