Syria has begun preparations to export its first shipment of heavy crude oil since the lifting of Western sanctions, amounting to 600,000 barrels, via the Greek tanker Nissos Christiana, operated by Swiss-based Vitol Group, from an oil terminal north of Tartous, according to Bloomberg.
The agency reported that Vitol, the world’s largest independent oil trader, will transport the shipment to a refinery in Italy, marking the first such export since sanctions were lifted and signaling the resumption of Syrian crude supplies to global markets.
Last July, U.S. President Donald Trump lifted decades-old sanctions on Syria in support of the new government and its economy, while the European Union followed two months later by scrapping all remaining economic sanctions on Damascus.
In parallel, Syria’s Ministry of Energy launched a tender last month to sell about 500,000 barrels of medium-density, high-sulphur crude, part of efforts to improve national revenues and reestablish a foothold in oil markets.
A Single Shipment Won’t Be Enough
Syrian economist Ammar Yousef told +963 that a single shipment is not enough to create tangible economic impact, stressing that consistent exports are key to meaningful recovery.
“The 600,000-barrel cargo may provide limited benefit, but only regular shipments can generate steady hard-currency inflows and improve the balance of payments,” he explained.
Such continuity, he added, could raise production levels, revive industry, and restore energy supplies. But he warned that the lack of government control over northeastern oil fields severely restricts sustainable development plans.
Also read: How Will Syria’s Return to Global Oil Markets Play Out?
Potential Output of 150,000 Barrels per Day
Petroleum engineer Nizam Al-Ahmad projected that production could reach up to 150,000 barrels per day in the coming months from fields in Deir Ezzor and Hasakah, provided damaged wells are rehabilitated.
He noted that most stable-producing fields are in northeastern Syria, while those under government control yield only limited quantities.
The Rmeilan and Jubaissah fields, he said, could return to output with minimal repairs, while major Deir Ezzor fields like Omar and Tanak have suffered deep damage, making pre-war output levels difficult to restore.
Although Syrian heavy crude sells for less than lighter grades, Al-Ahmad stressed it remains marketable if proper blending and processing capacities are available. He also highlighted widespread destruction of infrastructure, including pipelines and pumping stations, warning that entirely new lines may be required instead of repairing old ones.
Newly Established Ministry of Energy
President Ahmed Al-Sharaa issued Decree No. 150 of 2025 establishing a Ministry of Energy headquartered in Damascus, with full financial and administrative independence.
The new ministry replaces the Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Electricity, and the Ministry of Water Resources, assuming their rights and obligations. Employees from the dissolved ministries will be integrated into the new structure with their rights preserved.
The decree also created a dedicated budget chapter for the Ministry of Energy, merging the budgets of the previous ministries. All prior ministerial decisions remain in force until amended within three months.
The government views the recent oil export as a starting point, with plans to expand exports, upgrade drilling and production technology, and attract investments in Syria’s energy sector following the lifting of sanctions and Washington’s approval of oil sales.
Related: Syria and Global Partners Launch Ambitious Plan to Revive Oil and Gas Sector
Pre-War Oil Wealth and Wartime Decline
Before the 2011 conflict, Syria was a significant oil exporter with near self-sufficiency in refined products. According to OAPEC (Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries), oil exports generated $3 billion annually. Most fields, however, are in the northeast, now under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Since sanctions were lifted in June, U.S.-based firms have begun drafting plans for oil and gas exploration and signed memoranda of understanding for investment in oil, electricity, and gas.
Syria’s oil fields are split between the east and west of the Euphrates. The richest reserves lie in Deir Ezzor’s east, such as the Omar field (80,000 barrels/day before 2011), Conoco, and Tanak. West of the river, smaller fields like Taim and Shoula produced about 15,000 barrels/day pre-war.
Hasakah province held some of Syria’s most productive fields, including Jubaissah and Rmeilan, which yielded more than 210,000 barrels/day before the conflict. Years of war, repeated bombings, and makeshift refining have since devastated infrastructure, reduced efficiency, and caused severe environmental and health damage.
Decades of sanctions also prevented the import of vital equipment for well maintenance, leaving the sector in disrepair and now requiring hundreds of millions of dollars for rehabilitation.
