Turkey plans offshore energy exploration deal with Syria in 2026 Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Mon, 12/29/2025 - 10:07 Ankara's energy minister says government plans to conduct seismic research to evaluate area off Syrian coast for energy resources A Turkish drilling ship is viewed in Istanbul in this archive photo. (Ozan Kose/AFP) Off Turkish Energy Minister, Alparslan Bayraktar said on Monday that Turkey intends to seal an energy exploration agreement with Syria in 2026 to assess possible offshore energy resources along the Syrian coast. In an interview with Turkish digital news platform GDH on Monday, Bayraktar said that Ankara and Damascus had already signed a general framework agreement on energy cooperation earlier this year. "We plan to sign a specific offshore deal in 2026," he said. "After signing the deal, we may conduct seismic research to see what the field offers us". Bayraktar cautioned that the agreement does not necessarily mean Turkey would carry out drilling in the area. Having emerged as one of the key players in Syria after the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad's government, Turkey has deepened its energy cooperation with the country through a series of agreements. The move is likely to concern Greece and Cyprus, who may suspect that the deal could pave the way for Ankara and Damascus to establish an exclusive economic zone (EEZ), potentially heightening tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkish-Syrian energy ties have developed rapidly since December 2024. The largest energy agreement involving Turkey and Syria was signed on 29 May 2025.  It covered natural gas, electricity, mining, and petroleum, with a focus on technical coordination, information sharing, and joint investment. One of the most significant projects under this agreement is the natural gas pipeline between Kilis and Aleppo, completed in June 2025. Turkey to drill for oil off Somalia coast by 2026 Read More » Through this pipeline, Turkey is expected to supply Syria with two billion cubic metres of natural gas every year, enabling the generation of approximately 1,300 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The agreement also includes the construction of a 400-kilovolt high-voltage transmission line to integrate the power grids of both countries. When the line is expected to be operational by early 2026, it will have capacity to support up to 500 MW of electricity imports. A $7bn strategic cooperation agreement was concluded between Turkey’s Kalyon Holding and Cengiz Holding, Qatar’s UCC, and American company Power International. At the signing ceremony, the parties agreed to construct natural gas combined-cycle power plants with a total installed capacity of 4,000 MW in Treyfi, Zeyzun, Deir ez-Zor, and Mhardeh in Syria. In addition, a 1,000-MW solar power plant will be built in the Vidyan al-Rabi region. Energy Ankara News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0