How Syria Can Fast-Track Power Sector Recovery Using Jordan's Blueprint

Syria is actively reconstructing its electricity sector, backed by more than $10 billion in pledged funds from Gulf countries directed toward generation, transmission, and exploration. Beyond financial support, Syria benefits from invaluable hindsight, allowing it to study the decades of trial and error experienced by its neighbours in electricity reform.

Jordan’s transition over the past twenty years from a state-dominated model to a hybrid system featuring an independent regulator, private generators, and state and private distribution companies provides a vital roadmap. A key takeaway is the separation of responsibilities among policy, regulation, transmission, and commerce. Jordan's Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission oversees licensing and tariffs, while the state-owned National Electric Power Company manages the grid backbone, inspiring confidence among private investors.

At the same time, Jordan's journey highlights that privatisation is not an end in itself. While private investments bring efficiency and capital, long-term contracts can impose heavy burdens on public utilities and consumers if market conditions shift. Syria must welcome private capital through competitive, transparent tenders and flexible contracts, ensuring the government maintains strong control over system planning.

Renewable energy offers another crucial lesson. Although Jordan successfully pioneered large-scale solar and wind, early investments came at a high cost due to expensive technologies at the time. Syria should adopt renewables swiftly through competitive auctions and integrated storage solutions, while avoiding past pitfalls. Furthermore, distributed solar and net-metering policies must be carefully managed with smart meters and time-of-use tariffs to prevent shifting undue financial burdens onto conventional consumers.

Finally, Syria's greatest opportunity lies in regional integration. By designing its grid from the outset to connect with Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, and the Gulf grid, Syria can trade surplus power, lower costs, and enhance overall reliability. Drawing from the insights of Hala Zawati and Dr Wissam Rabadi, Syria has a unique chance to build a resilient, future-proof electricity infrastructure for the next thirty years.