Turkey is gearing up to play a pivotal role in rebuilding Syria’s energy sector and infrastructure following the recent end of the country’s 13-year civil war. Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced plans to provide electricity to Syria and explore avenues for collaboration on oil and natural gas.

Addressing Turkish media on Friday, Bayraktar emphasized Turkey's commitment to supporting its southern neighbor in restoring critical services. "We must very rapidly provide electricity to parts of Syria that currently lack access, starting with imports in the initial phase," he said. He outlined plans for increasing Syria’s electricity production capacity in the medium term and developing an infrastructure master plan.

Bayraktar revealed that a Turkish delegation, potentially led by him, would travel to Syria on Saturday to discuss energy transmission and other projects. The discussions aim to address Syria's pressing needs, including the potential supply of electricity to Lebanon via Syrian territories.

Ankara's involvement follows its support of Syrian rebels in toppling President Bashar al-Assad and its quick diplomatic outreach to Syria’s new leadership under de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. Turkey has already reopened its embassy in Damascus, with high-level Turkish officials meeting their Syrian counterparts to establish collaborative ties.

Bayraktar highlighted the significant decline in Syria's oil and natural gas production during the war and proposed using these resources to aid reconstruction. "There are many topics to mature, from forming an oil pipeline from Syria to Turkey and integrating it with our Iraq-Turkey pipeline," he stated.

The minister also noted that Ankara is open to broader international energy cooperation. In Somalia, where Turkey is conducting hydrocarbon exploration via a drill ship, Bayraktar mentioned ongoing discussions for collaborative ventures.

Turkey's proactive role underscores its ambition to be a key player in the region's energy and infrastructure development, reinforcing its position as a significant power broker in the post-conflict landscape.