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The Syrian government is negotiating a complete takeover of the al-Omar oilfield following Shell’s request to withdraw and transfer its stake to local state-owned operators, the head of the Syrian Petroleum Company, Youssef Qeblawi, stated on Monday.
Qeblawi said the London-based oil giant had formally communicated its intention to exit the project and relinquish its share to the Syrian state.
The al-Omar oilfield, located in Syria’s eastern Deir ez-Zor province, is considered one of the largest and most productive in the country.
It has long been a focal point of competition between various regional and international actors during the civil conflict, due to its capacity and proximity to border trade routes.
Qeblawi noted that discussions with Shell were ongoing regarding the financial terms of the transfer, Reuters reported.
The move comes after Syrian forces reclaimed the strategic oilfield over the weekend, concluding a swift military campaign against SDF terrorists.
In addition to Shell’s exit, Qeblawi indicated a potential return of major U.S. energy companies to Syria’s gas sector.
He said that ConocoPhillips intends to re-engage in Syrian gas field projects and that other American firms, namely Chevron, are making plans to enter the Syrian market for the first time.
If confirmed, such moves would represent a major shift in Syria’s post-conflict energy landscape, which has been largely isolated due to Western sanctions and political instability since the outbreak of civil war in 2011.
Syria holds considerable untapped energy potential, particularly in its eastern regions, where oil and gas reserves are concentrated.
Before the civil war, the country produced around 380,000 barrels of oil per day and 8.95 million cubic meters of gas, but output dropped sharply due to infrastructure damage and territorial fragmentation.
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