Azerbaijan begins gas exports to Syria, eyes wider regional supply
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Monday that his country has begun exporting natural gas to Syria and is considering expanding supplies to neighboring countries facing growing energy demand.
Speaking at the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum in Azerbaijan, Aliyev said Baku had added Syria to its list of gas export destinations as part of its broader strategy to diversify energy markets.
“We started to supply gas to a market which we could not even foresee, which is Syria,” Aliyev said. “And we can expand from Syria towards the neighborhood where there is a big demand.”
He added that Azerbaijan is also negotiating long-term gas contracts with European partners while seeking to expand its transportation infrastructure.
Aliyev described Azerbaijan as a reliable and predictable partner, saying the country’s role in regional and international energy security has grown significantly over the past decade.
He indicated that Azerbaijani pipeline gas is now supplied to 16 countries, with exports recently expanding to Austria, Germany and Syria.
The announcement follows the launch of Azerbaijani gas deliveries to Syria through Turkey in August 2025 under an agreement between the two countries. The project uses the Kilis–Aleppo pipeline and is intended to help address Syria’s severe electricity shortages by supplying fuel for power generation. Initial deliveries were set at around 3.4 million cubic meters per day, with the potential to increase in later phases.
Syrian officials previously said the imported gas would support the operation of power plants and contribute to improving electricity production after years of conflict severely damaged the country’s energy infrastructure.
Energy cooperation has become a key pillar of the growing ties between Damascus and Baku. During a meeting between Aliyev and Syrian Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa in April, the two leaders highlighted the strategic importance of exporting Azerbaijani gas to Syria via Turkey, describing the project as a contribution to Syria’s energy security and post-war recovery.