Turkey has agreed to supply Syria with 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas over five years in addition to 400 megawatts of electricity, Turkey-based newspaper Today's Zaman reports Wednesday.
"Next year, we are projecting to increase natural gas production by 2 billion cubic meters but our needs will also rise. We will keep importing to meet our own needs despite this increase in production," the paper reports citing Syrian Oil and Mineral Resources Minister Sufian Al Alou.
"According to our estimates, a balance between our demand and own supply will be reached in about six years," he said according to the daily.
Syria, whose annual consumption of natural gas is 7 billion cubic meters, is already capable of meeting 6 billion cubic meters from its own resources, Alou said, adding that the remaining 1 billion cubic meters, is largely met by Egypt, Today's Zaman reports.