STORY: Syrian electricity minister addresses extensive losses in electricity sector
SHOOTING TIME: May 13, 2024
DATELINE: May 17, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:37
LOCATION: Damascus
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the interview
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): GHASSAN AL-ZAMEL, Syrian Electricity Minister
3. various of Xinhua reporter
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): GHASSAN AL-ZAMEL, Syrian Electricity Minister

STORYLINE:

As Syria's power system has suffered significant damage due to the prolonged civil war, the country is planning to develop renewable energy projects to alleviate domestic electricity shortage, Electricity Minister Ghassan al-Zamel has said.

In an interview with Xinhua on Monday, al-Zamel said the electricity sector has been battered by the 13-year-long war and Western sanctions, with direct and indirect losses estimated at 120 billion U.S. dollars.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): GHASSAN AL-ZAMEL, Syrian Electricity Minister
"These significant losses and destruction in the electrical system have led to almost a collapse of the electricity system. We are trying to rebuild what has been destroyed, but there are difficulties due to the sanctions imposed by America on the electricity sector in particular. We believe, and the free world collectively believes, that the electricity sector is a humanitarian service sector and not a military sector to be subjected to sanctions."

The minister pointed out that the U.S. sanctions have a particularly devastating impact on the sector, leading to a power outage lasting two to four hours per day.

The limited power supplies created a ripple effect on all relevant sectors, including industry, healthcare, education, water supplies, etc., posing a challenge to Syria's recovery from years of crisis, the minister added.

He further revealed that Syria is working with "friendly countries" to develop renewable energy, expressing hope that wind power stations with capacities of 200 megawatts in the central province of Homs and other areas with wind potential "will be initiated soon."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): GHASSAN AL-ZAMEL, Syrian Electricity Minister
"We are trying as much as possible to shift towards renewable energy. We have a decent amount of projects underway, and God willing, in the coming years, the scale of projects and renewable energies will be greater. Whether solar or wind, the goal is to overcome the issue of electricity supply for citizens, industrial facilities, and healthcare facilities. Indeed, the biggest concern is ensuring hospitals, clinics, and drinking water supply for our fellow citizens."

Despite the U.S. sanctions, which remain "the biggest obstacle to Syria's reconstruction," al-Zamel said the country would "rely on friendly countries" to rehabilitate the power system and Syria at large in the coming period.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Damascus.
(XHTV)