Helping Reconstruction, Turkey Ready To Supply Electricity To Syria

Syria's condition after the overthrow of the Assad/DOK X regime @SyriaCivivilDef

JAKARTA - Turkey has stated that it is ready to supply electricity to Syria and Lebanon. A team of government officials is already in Syria to find ways to solve the problem of electricity supply.

"Maybe the electricity needed by Syria and Lebanon will initially be filled with exports from Turkey, and of course we can see the picture further after seeing the situation on the transmission network," Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said.

The ministry's delegation arrived in Damascus on Saturday and will discuss possible energy cooperation including electrical transmission to reduce electricity shortages.

According to him, the electricity installed in Syria before the war of 8,500 megawatts had fallen to around 3,500 megawatts.

"Most people meet their electricity needs with generators, so there is actually a very serious need for electricity," he said.

Meanwhile, President Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara would do whatever was necessary for Syrian reconstruction.

Turkey currently provides electricity to several areas in northern Syria.

Turkey, which supports rebels in neighboring Syria that toppled Bashar al-Assad after a 13-year civil war, has reopened its embassy in Damascus.