![A picture taken shows a Syria gas field, 35 kilometres (20 miles) northeast of the ancient city of Palmyra, in the central province of Homs on July 9, 2017 on July 9, 2017 [STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images]](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-811349012-scaled-e1698753929293.jpg)
Five new zones along Syria’s coast have been identified for natural gas exploration, an energy official said Wednesday, Anadolu reports. The state-run Syrian Petroleum Co. is working to expand existing petroleum fields and explore new ones, CEO Youssef Qablawi told the state-run TV channel Al-Ikhbariya. He added that Syria expects to double its gas production in a short period, adding that the company aims to significantly boost natural gas output before 2030. Qablawi said engineers have prepared domestic exploration plans for areas south of Damascus without foreign intermediaries and that five new coastal exploration blocks have been designated, though he did not specify their locations. Syria is positioned to become “an important hub for gas distribution to Europe,” he said, […]
