A Turkish Energy Ministry delegation will visit Syria "soon" to discuss potential energy cooperation, including electricity transmission to address power shortages, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Tuesday, as quoted by Reuters.
Turkey, which backed Syrian rebels who ousted President Bashar al-Assad earlier this month after a 13-year civil war, has reopened its embassy in Damascus. The head of Turkey's National Intelligence Service (MIT), Ibrahim Kalin, and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with de facto Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Last week, Erdogan said Ankara would do whatever was necessary to rebuild Syria, including improving energy ties.
“A delegation from the Energy Ministry will visit Syria as soon as possible and inspect Syria's electricity and energy infrastructure,“ Bayraktar told reporters.
The Turkish delegation will also discuss energy cooperation with the new Syrian government and Turkey's possible assistance in the matter, Bayraktar added.
He pointed out that the main problem in Syria in the energy sector is the current electricity shortage.
A formula will be sought for Turkey to provide electricity to Syria, he added.
Turkey currently provides electricity to some parts of northern Syria. Syria, where it has conducted four military operations since 2016.