TotalEnergies CEO Visits Syria to Discuss Oil and Gas Exploration Contract

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Patrick Pouyanne, CEO of France's TotalEnergies, told media in Damascus on Tuesday that he plans to meet with the Syrian Petroleum Company to discuss signing an oil and gas exploration contract.

Pouyanne is part of a delegation accompanying French President Emmanuel Macron on his visit to Syria, whose itinerary in Damascus was affected by a bomb attack in the area.

Total previously signed a memorandum of understanding with the Syrian Petroleum Company in May regarding exploration of an offshore block in the Mediterranean. The company has also recently mentioned the need to build a pipeline through Syria to transport Iraqi oil, as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz route following the war between the US, Israel, and Iran.

Pouyanne stated that Syria's offshore area has historically never been truly explored, so Total is collaborating with other companies on research. He will discuss with his Syrian counterparts that day whether they can move forward to the contract stage. He also noted that while he would prefer to discover oil rather than gas, resources previously found in the Eastern Mediterranean, such as in Cyprus and Israel, have been predominantly gas. He reiterated that Syria's strategic importance as a transport route for Iraqi oil is increasing.