Qatar’s Syria gas deal makes regional waves

The Gulf state’s offer to supply electricity-starved Syria is an opportunity to support a key ally, but Doha’s ambitions to build broader pipeline networks to Turkey and Europe face challenges

The agreement made in mid-March between the Qatar Fund for Development and Jordan’s Energy Ministry commits the Gulf state to supply gas that would generate 400MW of electricity on a daily basis from Syria’s Deir Ali power plant—the first hub in Syria of the Arab Gas Pipeline (AGP), which connects Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. There is a political imperative in providing material support to Syria in the form of gas. “Qatar has been eager to show some form of tangible support to Syria, particularly in the absence of the same from any other international players. They are keen to maintain that momentum with the new leadership, and they want integrate Syria physically in the region – and en