Syria sends first oil shipment after regaining control of Eastern fields

2026-01-25 - 21:05

A convoy carrying the first shipment of crude oil from recently recaptured fields in eastern Syria reached the coastal refinery city of Baniyas on Sunday. The delivery marks a tangible economic gain for the Syrian government following its military campaign to regain control of the resource-rich Deir ez-Zor province from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Details of the Initial Shipment According to a statement from Tartus Governorate, the shipment originated from the al-Omar and al-Tank oil fields in Deir ez-Zor. Twenty oil tankers transported the crude via land to the Syrian Petroleum Company's terminal in Baniyas, where it was unloaded into storage tanks under technical supervision. Authorities described this as the first such transfer since the state re-established control over the eastern oil fields, which they stated had been "liberated" from the SDF, a group Damascus labels a terrorist organization. A Potential Economic Turning Point Analysts view the government's consolidation of control over these oil and gas fields as one of the most significant economic developments in Syria in years. Regaining access to the country's primary energy reserves in the east is critical for Damascus as it seeks to rehabilitate infrastructure and boost domestic production amid a prolonged economic crisis. Syria's oil reserves are estimated at approximately 2.5 billion barrels, though current production remains a fraction of pre-conflict levels, at around 100,000 barrels per day. The nation also holds substantial natural gas reserves. Broader Implications for Stability and Resources The successful transit of oil across the country to the Mediterranean coast underscores the Syrian government's improved security reach along key internal routes. Officials framed the shipment as an initial step toward reviving the national energy sector, suggesting that with enhanced security and stability in the eastern regions, Syria's vast hydrocarbon resources could be more fully utilized. The development is closely watched as an indicator of Damascus's capacity to translate territorial gains into economic recovery.