Electricity supply in Syria has improved since the overthrow of its former dictator Bashar Al Assad last December ended nearly 14 years of civil war, but the recovery remains uneven, according to a report released this week.
The Mercy Corps Crisis Analysis - Syria report, relied on analysis of satellite imagery of night light reflectance (NLR), which measures the amount of light emitted from different areas at night, as well as data on sources of electricity and daily hours of supply from surveys conducted by Reach.
The report noted that following the installation of a transitional government by former rebel forces, efforts to restore Syria’s electricity supply have received strong support from Turkey and Gulf states, as well as a boost with the first deliveries last month of natural gas from Azerbaijan for its power plants.
In June, the World Bank approved a $146 million grant to restore transmission lines, substations and high-voltage transformer substations, and provide capacity building support to institutions managing the electricity sector. These investments should boost generation and extend daily hours of supply, which was between two to six hours per day for most communities in April, the report said.
According to estimates by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the World Bank, electricity consumption in Syria decreased from an average of 1,611 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per capita in 2010, the year before the war started, to 690 kWh per capita in 2022.
Syria’s electricity sector was already struggling to keep pace with demand before the uprising against Assad family rule began in 2011, as a result of lack of investment and maintenance of power plants and the electricity grid. During the war, fighting damaged or destroyed major power plants, and transmission infrastructure.
The fragmentation of the country into government-controlled areas and those controlled by various groups also affected distribution. This led to increased reliance on generators and solar power in some areas, such as the autonomously run north-east, or on external support, such as the rebel-held north-west, which turned to Turkey for its power supply and distribution system.
In the post-Assad era, connectivity to the electricity grid as well as political factors have also played a role in which areas have showed the greatest improvement in power supply, according to the report.
In Deir Ezzor governorate, there was improvement in 84 per cent of sites in areas that remained under the control of the Assad regime and are now under the government in Damascus, it said. In comparison, there was improvement in only 62 per cent of sites in areas under the Kurdish-led north-eastern administration, which has resisted ceding control to the new government.
“The gap illustrates how access to electricity infrastructure is contingent not just on where lines run, but on whether political arrangements facilitate or constrain their use,” it said.
The report also found that electricity consumption grew at a slower pace “in regions with nominal grid connectivity but which had experienced violent conflict since the fall of the Assad regime”, particularly Damascus, Latakia, Tartus and Sweida.
“Among these regions, Sweida is likely most at risk of being excluded from improvements to Syria’s electricity capacity due to persistent political rifts with the new government,” it said.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Iraq negotiating over Iran sanctions impact
- US sanctions on Iran’s energy industry and exports took effect on Monday, November 5.
- Washington issued formal waivers to eight buyers of Iranian oil, allowing them to continue limited imports. Iraq did not receive a waiver.
- Iraq’s government is cooperating with the US to contain Iranian influence in the country, and increased Iraqi oil production is helping to make up for Iranian crude that sanctions are blocking from markets, US officials say.
- Iraq, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, pumped last month at a record 4.78 million barrels a day, former Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said on Oct. 20. Iraq exported 3.83 million barrels a day last month, according to tanker tracking and data from port agents.
- Iraq has been working to restore production at its northern Kirkuk oil field. Kirkuk could add 200,000 barrels a day of oil to Iraq’s total output, Hook said.
- The country stopped trucking Kirkuk oil to Iran about three weeks ago, in line with U.S. sanctions, according to four people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified because they aren’t allowed to speak to media.
- Oil exports from Iran, OPEC’s third-largest supplier, have slumped since President Donald Trump announced in May that he’d reimpose sanctions. Iran shipped about 1.76 million barrels a day in October out of 3.42 million in total production, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
- Benchmark Brent crude fell 47 cents to $72.70 a barrel in London trading at 7:26 a.m. local time. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was 25 cents lower at $62.85 a barrel in New York. WTI held near the lowest level in seven months as concerns of a tightening market eased after the U.S. granted its waivers to buyers of Iranian crude.
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Schedule for Asia Cup
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)
Porsche Taycan Turbo specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 1050Nm
Range: 450km
Price: Dh601,800
On sale: now
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Zayed Sustainability Prize
DUBAI WORLD CUP RACE CARD
6.30pm Meydan Classic Trial US$100,000 (Turf) 1,400m
7.05pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
8.15pm Dubai Sprint Listed Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,200m
8.50pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group Two $450,000 (D) 1,900m
9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,800m
10pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m
The National selections
6.30pm Well Of Wisdom
7.05pm Summrghand
7.40pm Laser Show
8.15pm Angel Alexander
8.50pm Benbatl
9.25pm Art Du Val
10pm: Beyond Reason
ORDER OF PLAY ON SHOW COURTS
Centre Court - 4pm (UAE)
Gael Monfils (15) v Kyle Edmund
Karolina Pliskova (3) v Magdalena Rybarikova
Dusan Lajovic v Roger Federer (3)
Court 1 - 4pm
Adam Pavlasek v Novak Djokovic (2)
Dominic Thiem (8) v Gilles Simon
Angelique Kerber (1) v Kirsten Flipkens
Court 2 - 2.30pm
Grigor Dimitrov (13) v Marcos Baghdatis
Agnieszka Radwanska (9) v Christina McHale
Milos Raonic (6) v Mikhail Youzhny
Tsvetana Pironkova v Caroline Wozniacki (5)
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Mobile phone packages comparison
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.
Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.
Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.
When children are being bullied they they may be feel embarrassed and isolated, so parents should watch out for signs of signs of depression and anxiety
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THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director: Ron Howard
2/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
