New Prospects for Syrian- Russian, Chinese Oil Relations

DAMASCUS,(ST)_ Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources Suleiman Abbas reviewed on Thursday with the ambassadors of Russia and China in Damascus  oil  and exploration investment opportunities in open areas and in the Syrian territorial waters. He invited   Russian and Chinese companies to participate in these projects.

In two separate meetings,  the minister discussed with the two ambassadors cooperation  relations between the oil ministry the  Russian  and Chinese companies in oil and gas exploration and possibilities of cooperation in the development of existing fields to increase output , import  oil industry  equipment and prospects of  boosting  such  cooperation for  mutual interest.

Discussions dealt with oil projects implemented by Russian and Chinese companies in Syria, and the minister appreciated these companies continued work in Syria under the current circumstances.

The minister indicated  prospects for new discoveries as exploration work  in the Eastern Mediterranean  showed worthwhile discoveries in Egypt, Palestine, Cyprus and Lebanon, pointing out that the US Geological research center issued a report estimating  the potential available in the Levantine  basin which extends from southern occupied Palestine to  Lattakia  in the north and  Cyprus to the  West , up to 3455 billion cubic meters of gas and 3 billion barrels of  condensed  gas by products.

The minister expressed Oil Ministry desire to cooperate with Russian and Chinese companies specialized  in marine exploration.

The two ambassadors emphasized the depth of cooperation between their two countries and  Syria in all fields, especially in the fields of oil and gas, stressing  direct cooperation and coordination in this regard.

T. Fateh