In a move that strengthens economic and developmental cooperation, the Saudi oil tanker Petalidi, carrying 90,000 tons of crude oil, docked at the Syrian port of Banias. The shipment marks the first delivery of the Saudi oil grant intended to support Syria’s energy needs under a memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries.
Enhancing Stability and Safety
Ahmad Qubbaji, executive vice president of the Syrian Petroleum Company, said the shipment amounts to roughly 650,000 barrels of crude oil. He added that a second tanker carrying about one million barrels is scheduled to arrive on the twenty-third of this month. Abdulhadi Jubasi, director of the Banias Oil Terminal, explained that unloading will take 72 hours, noting that the terminal’s technical teams are fully prepared to handle the process efficiently and safely.
Mazen Alloush, director of public relations at the General Authority for Land and Sea Ports, said receiving the shipment supports the country’s ongoing need for energy materials and helps maintain operations at national refineries.
Technical teams began unloading immediately upon arrival, applying what he described as the highest technical and environmental safety standards. The crude will be pumped to the Banias refinery for processing, a step expected to improve the supply of petroleum products for the local market and contribute to greater stability in distribution.
Comprehensive Agreements and a Step Toward Reconstruction
The oil grant is part of broader economic cooperation between Syria and Saudi Arabia. Last August, bilateral relations saw a significant boost with the signing of seven agreements and memoranda of understanding during Saudi Arabia’s participation in the Damascus International Fair.
The agreements covered electricity generation, transmission and distribution networks, geophysical and geological surveying, oilfield services, drilling and maintenance, technical training, workforce development, and integrated oil and gas field management solutions.
These initiatives form part of a growing set of investment and financial commitments between the two countries, signaling an expanding Saudi role in supporting Syria’s reconstruction. The arrival of the Petalidi represents the largest energy-sector shipment in years and reflects new momentum for cooperation that could help stabilize essential services and advance economic development across Syria.
