A long-dormant pipeline project between Türkiye and Qatar could be revived following the fall of the decades-long Assad regime, said Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alpraslan Bayraktar on Monday.
Following a cabinet meeting in the Turkish capital Ankara, Bayraktar was asked about a possible revival of the natural gas pipeline project, which could connect European countries and Türkiye to Qatar through Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria.
Bayraktar said the realization of the pipeline could be possible 'if Syria achieves its (territorial) integrity and stability.'
'If so, that line must be safe. We hope it will be so. If so, there are many projects to produce,' he explained.
Electricity is an essential need, explained the Turkish minister, adding that 'with no existing infrastructure, everything is lacking (in Syria).'
'We need to look at how we can turn energy into a tool to meet these needs,' he added.
Bashar al-Assad, Syria's leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus early Sunday, signaling the collapse of the Baath Party regime, which had been in power in Syria since 1963.
By Handan Kazanci
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr