US Firms Develop Syria Energy Masterplan After Sanctions Lift

U.S.-based companies Baker Hughes, Hunt Energy, and Argent LNG are collaborating to develop a comprehensive masterplan for Syria's oil, gas, and power sectors, aiming to rebuild the country's energy infrastructure after 14 years of civil war. This initiative follows U.S. President Donald Trump's lifting of some of the world's strictest sanctions on Syria at the end of June 2025, enabling American firms to enter the Syrian market. The plan includes exploration, production, and electricity generation activities, including combined-cycle power plants, focusing initially on areas west of the Euphrates River under Syrian government control. The effort complements recent investments by Gulf Arab states into Syria's energy and port infrastructure and seeks to revitalize a sector that currently produces significantly less power than pre-war levels. Argent LNG, which is also developing an LNG export facility in Louisiana, previously signed a non-binding agreement to supply LNG to Bangladesh, marking a broader expansion of U.S. energy exports under the current administration. The initiative represents a significant step toward reintegrating Syria into the global energy economy and supporting its economic recovery.